Special Education

Developing the Civic Engagement of Students with Disabilities: Inclusive Civic Action Projects

rcairn — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 14:29:24 +0000

Developing the Civic Engagement of Students with Disabilities: Inclusive Civic Action Projects rcairn Sun, 07/07/2024 - 10:29 am

Disability in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era

rcairn — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 14:54:41 +0000

Disability in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era rcairn Tue, 06/11/2024 - 10:54 am

Reform to Equal Rights - Disability History Curriculum

rcairn — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 15:51:22 +0000

Reform to Equal Rights - Disability History Curriculum rcairn Fri, 12/29/2023 - 10:51 am

1776

2024

One of 250 primary sources in the curriculum.

The Reform to Equal Rights: K-12 Disability History Curriculum includes 250 primary sources in 23 lessons in seven units. Inclusive lessons feature Universal Design for Learning strategies and exemplary assessments. Lesson content facilitates integration into many regular K-12 topics. Skill and language development addresses C-3 History and Social Science frameworks as well as Educating for American Democracy Roadmap themes. Developed with Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources grant with additional support from Mass Humanities.

Reform to Equal Rights: K-12 Disability History Curriculum

K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Civics, U.S. History, English

The New Nation, Modern America

Lesson Plan

Framework for Inclusion: Physical, Pedagogical, and Narrative Accessibility

rcairn — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 17:08:57 +0000

Framework for Inclusion: Physical, Pedagogical, and Narrative Accessibility rcairn Mon, 12/11/2023 - 12:08 pm

Disability History Is Essential History - 2023 Report on the Teaching of Disability History

rcairn — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 12:50:50 +0000

Disability History Is Essential History - 2023 Report on the Teaching of Disability History rcairn Tue, 09/05/2023 - 08:50 am

Disability Pride

rcairn — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 12:55:50 +0000

Disability Pride rcairn Fri, 08/11/2023 - 08:55 am

Time Out – Spotlight Offensive Language in Primary Sources

rcairn — Sat, 29 Apr 2023 00:23:04 +0000

Time Out – Spotlight Offensive Language in Primary Sources rcairn Fri, 04/28/2023 - 08:23 pm

1776

2024

Every unit of the Reform to Equal Rights: K-12 Disability History Curriculum includes an introduction to the topic of disability, including strategies to address disrespectful vocabulary.

There are many words about disability that are offensive in today's usage that are unavoidable in primary sources–even current sources. (Think for example of the term, "dumb," which once meant non-speaking but today only means "stupid.") Thus it is essential to prepare students and to set clear ground rules about how they can respond respectfully when they do encounter such words. Some students may react strongly when they encounter particularly offensive terms and ideas. It is vital to know and support your students. It can be valuable to talk with their families about how to address difficult material. Consider also which terms are age appropriate for your students to read or hear.

Emerging America offers these ground rules:

It is NEVER OK to joke about disrespectful terms or to use them in conversation.

It is sometimes OK to use historic terms in a direct quotation. (For example, writing about the American School for the Deaf might require using its original name, "The American Asylum for Deaf and Dumb." See image below.)

It is also important to call at least a brief "Time Out" the first times harmful terms do come up to remind students of the ground rules. (See the slide at right from the Reform to Equal Rights: K-12 Disability History Curriculum.) There does not need to be a discussion each time this happens; teachers do not need to go off-topic.

Draw students' attention to historical context. For example, "asylum" originally implied a refuge from the horrible treatment people with mental were getting in jails and poor houses. Yet some words such as "feeble-minded" were never respectful. Help students to contrast ways language was used in the past, while giving clear guidance about what do do to be respectful today.

It can be difficult to keep up with changes in what language is appropriate. There is not 100% agreement among people with disabilities about how to handle many of these terms, even the word "disability" itself. One good source for teachers is the Disability Language Style Guide from the National Center on Disability and Journalism. (Some students may also find the site useful.)

The American School for the Deaf originally had a problematic name in today's usage.

3-5, 6-8, 9-12

U.S. History, Civics

The New Nation

Teaching Strategies

New Teaching Resource: Time Out – Spotlight Offensive Language in Primary Sources

anoyes — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 13:11:03 +0000

New Teaching Resource: Time Out – Spotlight Offensive Language in Primary Sources anoyes Thu, 04/27/2023 - 09:11 am

Why Teach Disability History? 2023

rcairn — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 15:42:58 +0000

Why Teach Disability History? 2023 rcairn Wed, 02/08/2023 - 10:42 am

Tools for Digital Literacy

rcairn — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 13:09:03 +0000

Tools for Digital Literacy rcairn Thu, 01/12/2023 - 08:09 am