Popular Education: Creating A Space Where We Can All Participate! A presentation by the National Youth Leadership Network Youth-to-Youth Training

What is NYLN? A youth-led, youth-run national organization that serves as a voice for and network of young leaders with disabilities. Our members are youth and young adults with disabilities (age 16-28) and allies (siblings, friends, parents, teachers, etc.). You can register to be an NYLN member at As a member you will get great info and be connected to other young leaders and allies around the country. IMAGE: Picture of the NYLN logo. It has a hand imprint on it, and it reads: National Youth Leadership Network.

Beliefs of Popular Education Popular education was started in Brazil. The Spanish definition means education of the people. This approach shifts power of learning/teaching from one lecturer to the whole group teaching itself. People-driven focus means it is used a lot in social-change work. It is good for youth with disabilities because it uses different learning styles. Facilitators play an important role. Facilitation responsibilities usually rotate. Everyones experiences are important. Everyone is BOTH a teacher and a learner. Everything we need to know we can learn from the people and world around us.

Examples of Popular Education Tools Story Circles Body Movement Activities Song/Music/Poetry Writing All of these are done in Safe Space! IMAGE: A man moves freely to express himself.

What is Safe Space? Questions to ask yourself: What do you need to be physically in a space? What do you need to be included and to contribute? What do you need to be your whole, beautiful, best self? How can we build a space where everyone has that together? How can we make space accessible? IMAGE: A girl feeling calm.

What Do We Need in a Space? Safe Space begins with accessibility: Accessibility means how easy something is to use. It can be related to disability (like wheelchair accessibility). Some accommodations for people with disabilities: Braille or large print Sign language interpreters Ramps and elevators Scent-free spaces IMAGE: A student using Braille.

Accessibility Guidelines Other needs may be: Time alone/quiet space or extra time Time alone/quiet space or extra time Use of different learning styles Use of different learning styles Language translation services Language translation services Being careful about triggers Being careful about triggers Room for personal care attendants Room for personal care attendants Planning to have programs near each other for people who get tired Planning to have programs near each other for people who get tired Mentorship for people new to a space Mentorship for people new to a space Stipends [money for participating], childcare, food, no-hate safe space, trigger warnings, transportation, direct support

What Else Does Safe Space Provide Us? Accessibility also goes beyond disability needs. All people need things to participate. Thinking and talking about accessibility makes it so everyone can participate. It shows that everyone is valuable and has a voice that should be heard. IMAGE: A woman sitting in a wheelchair kissing a child on the forehead.

Details of Popular Education Tools: Use a story circle: People divide up into small groups. Each person has 3 minutes to answer a question. Sometimes its called a prompt. The prompt might be: What is a time you were discriminated against? After everyone tells their stories, the facilitator helps weave the stories together with the larger group. People can see things that we have in common and can talk about how discrimination works. IMAGE: People are sitting in a circle telling each other their stories.

Explanation of Story Circle Activity The story circle activity gets people thinking about their personal experiences. Then everyone can see how they are associated with each other and feel connected to a larger group. Maybe they could have reached the same conclusion by someone explaining discrimination. But this way is more powerful because everyone has a chance to connect different stories to his/her own life. This way can also be more accessible than someone lecturing because different learning styles are included. IMAGE: An artistic picture of two people learning.

Questions Popular Education Thinks About: What do you need to be physically in a space? What do you need to be included and contributing? What do you need to be your whole beautiful best self? How can we build a space where everyone has that? Together? IMAGE: People standing in a circle and holding hands. Some people are standing on a cliff, others are in the sky.

For more information, or to become a member, contact us: National Youth Leadership Network (NYLN) wwww wwww wwww.... nnnn yyyy llll nnnn.... oooo rrrr gggg