speaking, acting, or writing to promote and protect the rights of people with mental or physical impairments.
Welcome! This project is intended to work across curriculum with links to history, informational text, communication, and special education transition skills.
THE PROBLEM: Often the individual impairments of people with disabilities are seen before the person. They may be seen as weaker and not as competent, mentally or physically, as a person without impairments. Who is at fault? Society? Media? Government? Medical institutions? Read Myths or Facts About People with Disabilities.
THE SOLUTION: Change the way society views people with mental or physical impairments. Read Social and Medical Models of Disability Paradigm Change.
DRIVING QUESTION: How can we change the paradigm surrounding disability so that people with mental or physical impairments can be seen for their humanity, not their disability?
SUBQUESTIONS:
How does the media present people with mental or physical impairments?
What are the laws, policies, court cases that protect the rights of people with disabilities? Are they enough?
Beyond the dictionary, what is the meaning of paradigm? disability? impairment? human dignity? equality? person-first language v. individual first language? social model of disability? disability hierarchy? presumption of competence?
How might the current paradigm negatively affect people with mental or physical impairments? In other words, why should the paradigm change?
How are Civil Rights and Disability Rights linked? What practices might be beneficial for both civil rights and disability rights?
What is the role of an ally or a special advocate in relation to a person with a mental or physical impairment?
Are the resources used both credible and accurate? Give evidence.
What tools are available to get the message across to the largest audience?
What tools are available to organize team and individual thoughts, plan the project, and present ideas?
How can a student best work with a team to get their message out and make the most positive impact?
When interviewing your mentor or other people with disabilities, what are some do's and don'ts (disability etiquette)?