 (Dis)Ability A Conversation about Identity and Perspective John Loeppky

I Believe I believe that, in order to be a good and effective teacher, I must embrace my disability whole heartedly and see at as an opportunity rather than a hindrance. If I am not being true to myself I am only blurring the vision of my students. Additionally I believe that personal experience and practicality trump theory in many situations and that there needs to be an eye on the trifold perspectives of the past, present, and future in order to make informed and well rounded decisions. I believe in equitable not equal education, where students get the supports, aid, compassion, and opportunities they deserve and need to thrive rather than a straightforward, across the board arrangement. I believe that the school system is a place to improve the living conditions, both mentally and physically, of people in society and that knowledge starts with understanding of, not only the how, but the why. Lastly, and, perhaps, most importantly I believe in reflexive practice where improving as an educator is not just in reflecting but in responding to those reflections with improved practice.

Changing Perceptions… Hint: Watch the left side of the screen!

What Did this Video Make You Think?

Symbols: Some are Serious

Some Less So

The Disability Name Game Good WordsBad Words VS

Why Don’t We Argue Over The True Issues? Language is not the only problem What about questions of accessibility? Aids and adaptions? Ways to access and evaluate that are fair, just, and appropriate?

Inclusion vs Mainstreaming To place a disabled student in a classroom does not immediately create inclusion. Mainstreaming is when students are placed in a regular classroom but, all too often, said student is left without his or her necessary supports. Inclusion involves placing students in classrooms that are appropriate to promote learning and with the needed support. Please note that appropriate does not automatically mean a special education classroom at the expense of a regular classroom. In other words it is not an either or proposition between the special needs classroom and the regular classroom The best learning environment for a disabled students is when these two arenas coexist and communicate to create a harmonized experience. Shoving a child into a classroom is NOT inclusion.

1 st Case Study Setting: School for Students with Special Needs (Autistic unit) Circumstances: Six Students (4 Educational Assistants 1 ) out for recess. One child starts throwing a tantrum and begins to catch the attention of all four EAs. As more and more of the students become agitated the situation escalates. The group, most of whom are very attached to routine, a common trait of an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), were supposed to go swimming that day. As all four of the supervisors converge to try to calm the upset student down, one of the other students stands in the corner surveying the situation. This secluded student was the most upset when the group was told they were not going for their expected field trip.

2 nd Case Study Setting: Beach volleyball court, small PE 30 Class A student with Cerebral palsy begins to play. Due to their physical limitations the student participates while crawling. There are four players on each team, which leaves plenty of room for error for the able bodied athletes. The teacher is close enough to the action to hear this exchange Able bodied student AB: Move a little to the left Disabled student(DS): Ok (moves) AB: More DS: Ok AB: More DS: But that’s the sideline AB: Exactly, right where you belong What do you think the teacher did in these two scenarios ?

The Ultimate Questions… Why do we obsess over less important issues, such as naming, rather than on actual issues involved in inclusion? AND What do we need to do, as teachers, to be inclusive?

Sources Wheelchair Rugby Hit acceptance/ acceptance/ - wheelchair with heart many of those who parked here illegally normal disabled picture autism-awareness.htmlhttp://autismandtheworldaroundme.blogspot.ca/2010/04/light-it-up-blue autism-awareness.html: Autism Speaks Logo redneck wheelchair