Avenues Understanding

Avenues Understanding

Avenues to Understanding Educator’s Guide Disability Awareness Initiatives for Children & Young Adults An Easter Seals Wisconsin Program 1.800.422.2324 • www.EasterSealsWisconsin.com Welcome to Avenues to Understanding We’re so glad you’ve decided to join us in educating children and young adults about disabilities through Avenues to Understanding, and we’re confident your entire group will enjoy the experience. Easter Seals Wisconsin believes that disability awareness education, by building understanding and encouraging acceptance, is the best way to prevent misunderstandings and habits of avoidance from forming. Most children will, if armed with knowledge, find it easier to meet peers with disabilities and to include them fully in their classrooms, their social groups and in their lives. We also hope you’ll want to share the understanding with others, either through some of the ideas presented at the end of each unit, or by inviting other educators and group leaders to contact Easter Seals to obtain their own Avenues to Understanding materials. Thank you so much for joining us in this important educational initiative. Help Make Disability Education a Part of ALL Education • Do what you can to make certain your public, church, school and classroom libraries have books dealing with disabilities on their shelves. Books that portray people with disabilities as fully developed persons are preferred. We’ve suggested a number of books in the Resources Section of this Educator’s Guide. Librarians and other educators may have additional resources available to aid them in choosing which books to make available. • People with disabilities are the largest minority group in the country. Do what you can to ensure that diversity materials include information about people with disabilities. • Promote the inclusion of disability awareness concepts throughout standard curriculum. General awareness education as well as specific issues dealing with disabilities can comfortably be incorporated into, among other subjects, social studies, history, communication arts, health, physical education, music and art classes. Disclaimer Web addresses to organizations outside Easter Seals Wisconsin are included for information only. The views nda opinions of these organizations are not necessarily those of Easter Seals Wisconsin and Easter Seals Wisconsin has no control over the content of their webpages. Acknowledgements Easter Seals Wisconsin gratefully acknowledges interns Stephanie Zoril and Rachel Tabak for their invaluable contributions to the development of Avenues to Understanding. We also thank Jason LaFlash, Micaela Lowney and Erin Linley Holland for their time, input, critiques and suggestions. 1 Easter Seals Wisconsin • Avenues to Understanding Table of Contents Section One: Young Children (ages 3-8) Overview ........................................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction to Disabilities ............................................................................................................. 5 Exploring Similarities & Differences ............................................................................................. 7 Mobility Disabilities & Adaptive Equipment ................................................................................ 9 Sensory Disabilities & Adaptive Equipment ............................................................................... 12 Making Friends & Disability Etiquette ........................................................................................ 17 Sharing the Understanding ........................................................................................................... 20 Section Two: Older Kids (ages 9-13) Overview ......................................................................................................................................... 22 Architectural Barriers .................................................................................................................... 23 Barriers to Recreation ................................................................................................................... 26 Attitudinal Barriers ........................................................................................................................ 28 Sharing the Understanding ........................................................................................................... 32 Section Three: Teens & Young Adults (ages 14-18) Overview ......................................................................................................................................... 34 Disabilities & Real Life ................................................................................................................... 35 Disabilities in the Media & in the Arts ....................................................................................... 38 The Language of Disability ............................................................................................................ 41 Disabilities & Civil Rights ............................................................................................................. 42 Sharing the Understanding ........................................................................................................... 44 Resources Q & A: Answers to the Most Common Questions Young Children Ask ................................ 47 The Language of Disability ............................................................................................................ 49 Myths & Realities ............................................................................................................................ 51 Disability Etiquette ......................................................................................................................... 53 Bullying ............................................................................................................................................ 55 Tools: Adaptive Equipment & Assistive Technology ................................................................ 57 Understanding Disabilities ............................................................................................................ 59 Autism ....................................................................................................................................... 59 Cerebral Palsy .......................................................................................................................... 60 Spina Bifida............................................................................................................................... 60 Recommended Reading ................................................................................................................ 61 Films ................................................................................................................................................. 69 Disability Quizzes ........................................................................................................................... 73 General Disability Awareness Quiz ....................................................................................... 74 General Disability Awareness Answer Key .......................................................................... 75 The Language of Disability Quiz ........................................................................................... 77 The Language of Disability Answer Key ............................................................................... 78 Wheelchair Accessibility Check List ............................................................................................ 79 Attitude Check ................................................................................................................................ 80 Photo Gallery .................................................................................................................................. 81 Well-Known People with Disabilities .......................................................................................... 87 Contact Information for Selected Wisconsin Colleges & Universities ................................... 88 Bibliography .................................................................................................................................... 90 Helpful Links ................................................................................................................................... 92 1.800.422.2324 • www.EasterSealsWisconsin.com 2 Section One: Avenues to Understanding for Young Children Approximate Target Age: 3-8 Easter Seals Wisconsin • Avenues to Understanding Program Overview Section One of Avenues to Understanding is geared toward children ages 3 through 8. This is the ideal time to start teaching about disabilities. At this age, children absorbing attitudes and ideas that may shape much of their life, and it is vitally important to expose them to disabilities in a positive light. The discussion and activity options offered can be easily adapted to meet the needs, age levels and interests of the children in your group, as well as the time available. To reinforce the ideas you’ll be presenting, we’ve provided a Parent Guide, available for download. This can be copied and sent home with each child. In this brief brochure, we encourage parents to talk about disabilities at home

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