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Combating Ableism

Combating Ableism. March 5, 2009 Tyler Anderson Lonna Carrier Kaitlin Kirby Katie Klug. Definitions. ABLEISM: “Discrimination or prejudice against individuals with disabilities” -Miriam Webster Dictionary DISABILITY (according to WA State):

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Combating Ableism

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  1. Combating Ableism March 5, 2009 Tyler Anderson Lonna Carrier Kaitlin Kirby Katie Klug

  2. Definitions ABLEISM: “Discrimination or prejudice against individuals with disabilities” -Miriam Webster Dictionary DISABILITY (according to WA State): “…unable to engage in any substantial gainful work activity because of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment…”

  3. Section 504 Prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in federally funded programs • In education, the child with a disability has equal access to an education (with modifications and accommodations, if needed)

  4. IDEA: Provisions • Identification of students with disabilities • Free public education • Least Restrictive Environment • Individualized Education Programs (IEP) • Appropriate discipline

  5. Athletic Competition • 2007 Special Olympics: 7,500 athletes from 164 countries participated • Offers 30 team and individual sports • 2008 Paralympics: 4,200 athletes from 148 countries participated • Offers 20 team and individual sports • 2008 Olympics: 10,500 athletes participated in 28 Summer sports

  6. Special Education Populations 12.6 % of students in WA schools were in Special Education in 2007. There were 111,328 Special Education students in WA schools last year. • OSPI: http://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/summary.aspx?year=2007-08 • OSPI: http://www.k12.wa.us/SpecialEd/data.aspx

  7. Percent of Disabled Population (2008) • OSPI: http://www.k12.wa.us/SpecialEd/data.aspx

  8. Do You Know… The Up Side: Children of deaf parents who communicate in ASL display superior language development and obtain higher scores on intelligence measures than deaf children of hearing parents The Down Side: Students with learning disabilities drop out of school about twice as much as nondisabled students - Class handout: “Eliminating Ableism in Education”

  9. Fiscal Facts • President’s budget for (K-12) Special Education programs in 2009: $12,335,943 • Total budget for the Department of Education in 2009: $36,630,595 - US Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/history/index.html

  10. Jason McElwain’sStory

  11. Questions to Consider: • How does J Mac’s story make you feel/think? • Why is it inspirational? • Pity or Respect?

  12. Video Quotes • Narrator: What we all want in life is a shot.  But what we do with it, that's the story we all want to tell. • Narrator: Diagnosed with autism at 2 years old, [J Mac] has never considered himself special or different, especially when it comes to sports. • J Mac: It's not really a big deal at all.  I'm just normal like other people.  That's the way I am.

  13. The Tangible Impact of Ableism • “Living in a world not built for me” • Assumptions about intellectual capacity and physical limitations • Ignorance and lack of care by others • Bathroom • Parking Spots • Inaccessible areas • Comments • “Watch out for that wheelchair!!” • Depersonalization

  14. In my Classroom • Ignorance and lack of preparedness lead to poorly handled situations • Lessons learned • Meet with student at the beginning • Encourage them to tell you how studying works/doesn’t work for them • IEP-type planning would have been great • Ask how I can come alongside • Sensitivity

  15. Case Study: Apalachee High School - The Last Real High School in America. • “You Don’t Go to Apalachee, You Belong to It” • What is Apalachee doing to make them an A+ high school? • Family environment - students feel like they are part of something good and important. • Highly experienced teaching staff • Lots of opportunities and support • Emphasis on note taking • Specific student stories

  16. Story Problem • Sally and Dave leave Portland, OR at 4:00pm, each heading home. Sally is driving 175 miles to her house in Seattle, WA in a car that can go 112 miles per hour. The average speed limit between Portland and Seattle is 61 miles per hour and Sally always drives exactly the speed limit. Dave is driving to his house in Grants Pass, OR in a car that can go 135 miles per hour. The average speed limit between Portland and Grants Pass is 68 miles per hour and Dave always drives 7 miles per hour above the speed limit. Who will get home first?

  17. Strategies for Combating Ableism • Three-fold responsibilities for teachers: • 1) What we must do about our own mindset • 2) What we must do for the student • 3) What we must do to break down walls in the classroom for all students and encourage a non-ableist culture “Students that learn together learn to live together” – everyoneineducation.com

  18. Focus 1: Ourselves • Acknowledge that ableism exists • Become educated about disabilities • Communicate with special educators, parents, and the student • Learn about special education methods/tools necessary for effective teaching/learning

  19. Focus 2: The Student • Educate them about their disabilities • Teach them how to be self-advocates • Encourage skills and modes of expression that are most effective and efficient for them • Do not expect universal performance • Do not lower expectations or adjust standards • Provide necessary assistance (tools and/or disability-specific professionals) • IEP teams to determine Least Restrictive Environment

  20. Focus 3: Confronting Ableist Culture in the Classroom • Bring issues into focus for all students without highlighting specific children with disabilities • Encourage dialogue and empathy • Flee sterotyping and patronizing • Promote disabilities as diversity • All students can learn about disabilities and how to be an advocate for themselves and others • Respect versus pity • “Regular life” versus “Normal life”

  21. Possible Teaching Strategies in a Science Classroom • Historical examples of brilliant scientists and citizens with physical or mental disabilities Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater." - Albert Einstein

  22. Possible Teaching Strategies in a Science Classroom • Approach universal design from a problem-solving angle • What could we do in our school to make things more accessible to students and adults with disabilities? • Design a new technology that will help those using wheelchairs, canes or braces to get around • How could we use technology to help our fellow students out who are visually or hearing-impaired?

  23. Possible Teaching Strategies in a Science Classroom • Study the biology, physiology and chemistry of disabilities and diseases and the ongoing research • Spinal cord injuries • Multiple Sclerosis • Muscular Dystrophy • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) • Chromosomal disorders (Down’s) • ADD/ADHD • Autism

  24. Possible Teaching Strategies in a Science Classroom • Highlight that physical and mental disabilities are not often linked • Help them realize causes are varied • Disabilities are not bad, sad or wrong even though no one chose their circumstance • Being different versus being “weird” or “scary” • Individuality and equity

  25. “The problem with special education is that it is neither special nor education.” - Alice Metzner, 1970

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