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Purpose:
to learn firsthand what it is like to walk in someone else’s shoes;
to have more insights about people with disabilities, less fear,
prejudice, and misunderstanding, and that you will keep these new
feelings and understandings with you; to remember how things have
improved since Helen Keller’s day and that you can help make the
lives of people with disabilities even better with your new
understanding.
You will
learn about people with disabilities during the next two weeks. You
and a partner will research a specific disability, read what other
real people say about having a disability, and write a newspaper
article describing what you have learned.
Research:
1.
First,
find out what famous people had or have disabilities. Visit this
site:
Family Village - People with Disabilities
2.
Second,
read what kids with learning disabilities are writing. Visit this
site:
LD OnLine
3.
In order
to understand the history of education for people with disabilities,
review the general sources listed below.
A Brief History of the Disability Movement
History of Disability Services in the U.S.
4.
In your
writer’s notebook, write down what you learned and what may have
surprised you.
Task:
Discover
what it is like to have a specific disability and how it would
affect your life. You and your partner will choose a disability.
Your quest is to walk in the shoes of someone with that disability.
Find out how a disability affects someone’s life. A disability can
affect how someone is involved in hobbies such as drawing,
recreation, sports, eating, going shopping, and getting an education
through special education (education for people with disabilities).
Compare special education today to what Helen Keller had in the late
1800’s. Use the Internet and other sources for your research.
Explain how your lives would change and your reactions to these
changes. Evaluate the benefits of special education in our school.
You and your partner will answer this research question and share
what you’ve learned. Use your writer’s notebook to answer
questions, take notes, and write down other questions you need
answered.
5.
Write an
article or letter to the editor for the school or local newspaper.
Describe how students with disabilities deserve to be treated with
respect and given equal opportunities for learning. Provide a
unique, imaginative title.
1.
What is
it like to have a certain disability and how has it changed your
opinions or feelings about the disability?
2.
What do
people with that disability have to say?
3.
How does
our school help people with this disability?
4.
How is
life with a disability today different from when Helen Keller grew
up?
5.
What
have you learned?
If
possible, you may want to interview someone with the disability you
are researching. You must get teacher approval before you interview
someone. These are some suggested questions.
1.
What is
your disability?
2.
How does
it affect you?
3.
What
makes it hard to learn?
4.
Are you
ever afraid that you will get hurt?
5.
How do
you feel about your education at this school or the school you
attended?
6.
Could
anything be made better or easier for you?
7.
What was
your biggest success?
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