Combating Ableism

March 5, 2009

Tyler AndersonLonna CarrierKaitlin Kirby Katie Klug

DefinitionsABLEISM:“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…”

Section 504

Prohibits discrimination against peoplewith disabilities in federally funded programs

•In education, the child with a disability has equal access to an education (with modifications and accommodations, if needed)

IDEA: ProvisionsIdentification of students with

disabilitiesFree public educationLeast Restrictive EnvironmentIndividualized Education

Programs (IEP)Appropriate discipline

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

Special Education Populations

12.6 % of students in WA schools were in Special Education in 2007.

Special Ed

Non Special Ed

There were 111,328 Special Education students in WA schools last year.

- OSPI: http://www.k12.wa.us/SpecialEd/data.aspx- OSPI: http://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/summary.aspx?year=2007-08

Percent of Disabled Population (2008)

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

30.00%

35.00%

40.00%

1. Developmental Delays2. Emotional/Behavioral Disability3. Orthopedic Impairments4. Health Impairments5. Specific Learning Disabilities6. Mental Retardation7. Multiple Disabilities8. Deafness9. Hearing Impairments10. Visual Impairments11. Deaf-Blindness12. Communication Disorders13. Autism14. Traumatic Brain Injury

- OSPI: http://www.k12.wa.us/SpecialEd/data.aspx

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 parentsThe Down Side:Students with learning disabilities drop out of school about twice as much as nondisabled students- Class handout: “Eliminating Ableism in Education”

Fiscal FactsPresident’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

Jason McElwain’s Story

Questions to Consider:How does J Mac’s story make you

feel/think?Why is it inspirational?Pity or Respect?

Video QuotesNarrator: 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.

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

In my ClassroomIgnorance 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

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

Story ProblemSally 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?

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

Focus 1: OurselvesAcknowledge that ableism existsBecome educated about

disabilitiesCommunicate with special

educators, parents, and the student

Learn about special education methods/tools necessary for effective teaching/learning

Focus 2: The StudentEducate them about their disabilitiesTeach them how to be self-advocatesEncourage skills and modes of expression

that are most effective and efficient for them

Do not expect universal performanceDo not lower expectations or adjust

standardsProvide necessary assistance (tools and/or

disability-specific professionals)◦IEP teams to determine Least Restrictive

Environment

Focus 3: Confronting Ableist Culture in the ClassroomBring 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”

Possible Teaching Strategies in a Science ClassroomHistorical 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

Possible Teaching Strategies in a Science ClassroomApproach 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?

Possible Teaching Strategies in a Science ClassroomStudy 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

Possible Teaching Strategies in a Science ClassroomHighlight 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

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