Introduction to Peer Tutoring Peer Tutor Training #1: Inclusive Education People-First Language Peer Tutor Tips/ExpectationsRespect Role ModelingBuild a Person Activity Labeling

Who are Peer Tutors? They… Provide Encouragement, Empowerment, and Recognition Through Understanding, Teamwork, Opportunity, and Respect What do you think this means? How would you restate some of these ideas in your own words? Jot down your idea. Anyone? Share freely.

Crayons as a Metaphor for Life “We could learn a lot from crayons; some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, while others bright, some have weird names, but they all have learned to live together in the same box.” - Unknown

Inclusion: What does this word mean? Discuss with a neighbor. Jot your idea down and then share out.

Inclusive Education: Definition Inclusive Education: The practice of students with special needs spending some, most, or all of their time in typical classes with students without disabilities.

Inclusive Education Special Education:  Became official in 1975, Public Law Before that, people with disabilities were often hushed up, kept away in homes, or put into institutions. Special education is a service, not a place; ALL students have the educational right to receive services in general education classrooms with their peers.

My Experiences What were your personal experiences in school with students receiving Special Education? ** Fill out Benefits of Inclusive Education Venn Diagram in packet.

Tips for Being a Successful Peer Tutor Briefly describe importance of each.  Arrive punctually to class daily.  Respond to student needs in a timely manner.  Have an understanding of what needs to be done and provide the necessary support.  Be respectful and have a positive attitude toward the student, class, and teachers.  Put forth effort to be a useful peer tutor by being supportive and helpful to the student.  Make sure the student completes and turns in all assignments, and communicate with the teachers when this doesn ’ t happen.

Tips for Being a Successful Peer Tutor  Use your time wisely as a peer tutor, remaining focused on class material and the student, not your friends.  Follow the rules of the classroom and behave appropriately.  Actively involve your student in class discussions, group activities, and projects.  Communicate with both teachers (general and special education) and ask for help when needed.  Be an active listener and respond to the student as needed.  Be a positive role model.  Complete all of your assignments, but not theirs… you are there to assist them, not to do it for them.

Being a Positive Role Model  Do not use your: Cell phone, music player, headphones, etc. at any time during class. It is not professional as a peer tutor and it is a distraction to the teacher, to you, and to your student.

Being a Positive Role Model  Follow the dress code, even on hot days. It reflects poorly on your image as a peer tutor.  You will be made to change and it will impact your conduct grade.

Respect ! ! ! Briefly discuss the importance of each.  Recognize that your student is the same age as you, maybe even older. Treat them that way.  Allow them to complete classwork with your help (if needed) rather than doing it for them.  Always explain how you are going to help before giving it.  Focus on your student ’ s POSITIVE qualities and skills, never on what they can ’ t do. Do you like it when people do that?  Use People-First Language when talking about a person with a disability.  Don ’ t speak for your student; allow them to communicate for themselves.

Respect  Talk WITH your student, and never ABOUT them.  Respect the student ’ s confidentiality. We all want it and we all have our issues. You don ’ t like people you trust talking about yours to others behind your back.  CELEBRATE the successes that you and your student experience; you are making a difference in each other!

Raise your hand if you ’ ve ever said the word… Now be honest.

RETARDED. Dictionary definition: Slow. Impeding. Lacking in progress or advancement. Not – stupid, idiotic, or lame. Otherwise known as the R-word. The use of the word “retarded” in regard to anyone, even joking with your friends, is a negatively-labeling term and demeans people with disabilities.

You just stepped off of a sidewalk and were instantly hit by the speeding car of someone who was texting while driving.

You were not at fault at all. You had a white walk sign. The driver, unfortunately for you, blew the red light.

The driver walked away. You are now paralyzed from the waist down.

You now have to use a wheelchair for the rest of your life to get from place to place. You also have no strength or fine motor control to move it on your own. You will always have to be pushed.

Much of the day, you now spend in a hospital bed and need to be rotated every two hours so you don’t get oozing bed sores.

You now have to have a caregiver suck the constant flow of drool that runs continually out of your open mouth with a loud suction machine every few minutes so that you don’t choke on your own saliva.

You can no longer eat solid food. You have to have protein liquids pumped directly into your stomach with a mechanical pump through a G-tube that gets plugged into your stomach.

You have to wear adult diapers and be changed by a nurse or your parent every few hours because you no longer have any bowel control.

Your nervous system was impaired, causing you to have random episodes of spasms that make your head and body jerk wildly, making you look really strange and awkward.

When you try to speak, nothing but unintelligible moans and grunts come out of your mouth.

People smile at you sympathetically thinking they are being nice, then turn away to resume their conversations with their friends. You know that you are ignored and patronized by everyone everyday.

It’s like you are invisible. People see right through you and don’t even see you.

People may try to play with baby toys with you and talk to you like you are an infant.

This can happen in an instant to anyone, including you. It does everyday.

If and when this happens to you or to someone you love, are you or they now…

a retard?

Build a Person Activity Inside your “person,” please write 15 traits, qualities, or characteristics but not in the boxes. These can be physical or intellectual traits, talents, idiosynchrosies, etc. Just create a totally unique person.

Build a Person Activity Inside your “person,” please write 15 traits, qualities, or characteristics but not in the boxes. These can be physical or intellectual traits, talents, idiosynchrosies, etc. Just create a totally unique person. Now give your person a name in the bottom box. What have you just done?

Build a Person Activity Inside your “person,” please write 15 traits, qualities, or characteristics but not in the boxes. These can be physical or intellectual traits, talents, idiosynchrosies, etc. Just create a totally unique person. Now give your person a name in the bottom box. What have you just done? Now write the word “Autism” in the center box. What is Autism? How would you describe your person now?

Labels What are some common labels people use in everyday conversation, but in their use, carry negative meaning and perpetuate negative stereotypes? Jot some ideas down.

Labels What are some common labels people use in everyday conversation, but in their use, carry negative meaning and perpetuate negative stereotypes? BlondSlutOutsider Fag/Dyke/HomoPlayerPunk FreakNerdBand Geek StupidGothEmo FatPreppy

People-First Language Handicapped. Challenged. Disability. So which one do you think you should use in describing a person? Please raise your hands for each.

“ Handicapped ” The legendary origin of the word consists of a person with a disability begging for money from others with his “cap in his hand,” creating an image of pitiful, needy people. “ Handicapped ” An old term that evokes negative images of pity or fear.

“ Handicapped ” continued  We all see parking places that say “ handicapped ” as a reference that something is useful to all people with disabilities. These accommodations are designed to improve access for people with physical disabilities, they do not have benefits for all people with disabilities.  An accurate term would be accessible parking. A handicap is actually a disadvantage that occurs for a person. For example, stairs are a handicap to a person in a wheelchair.

“ Challenged ”  “ Challenged ” is often chosen because it sounds kinder and gentler. But many people with disabilities don ’ t view themselves as being challenged.  For example, someone may not be able to do certain things because they use a wheelchair, have cerebral palsy, or a learning disability; however, this is not because they are unable or unwilling to accept a challenge.

“ Disability ”  Disability: the generally accepted term; has replaced the word “ handicapped ” in federal laws.  Developmentalbecame the term to refer to someone ’ s Disability:cognitive ability. Intellectual New “appropriate” term for a person Disability:with a developmental disability.

So which do we use? a)handicapped? b)challenged? c)disability?

Trick question. The answer is: d) none of the above.

There are valid reasons to use the word “disability,” which is the currently accepted term to describe a person’s needs.

HOWEVER, The best label to give someone is simply their name. We all have one.

Using People-First Language

 As we said, typically, it is not even necessary to talk about a person ’ s disability. However, medical, educational, and legal fields, as well as social services, are places that might require a specific disability label. But, there are times when it is difficult not to refer to a person’s disability. If so, we put the person before the disability in the sentence.

Using People-First Language  Use “ with ” or “ has ” instead of “ is ” and “ are ”.  “ is ” and “ are ” are labeling terms that define.  “ with ” and “ has ” refer to a trait someone has, but is only a part of the whole.

Examples of People-First Language  The autistic boy is a really good artist. What is wrong with this statement?

Examples of People-First Language Change to:  The boy with autism is a really good artist.

Examples of People-First Language  I helped push the handicapped boy around the bases in P.E. What is wrong with this statement?

Examples of People-First Language  I helped push the boy who uses a wheelchair around the bases in P.E. Use “ uses ” for equipment needs. We don ’ t want to combine a person with their equipment or use it to identify them.

Homework: check website  1. Benefits of Inclusive Education activity (Venn Diagram).  2. Read “ A Few Words About People First Language ” by Kathie Snow.  3. Complete the People First Language Sentences activity sheet.  4. Read “ Life Beyond the Label ” by Kathie Snow.  5. Write a 1-page reflection on why it is important to “ look beyond labels.” Typed, MLA Format. Introduction, 1 Body Paragraph with 2 Evidence Statements from the article with analysis, and a conclusion.