Disability awareness/rights in schools – how do you feel?

blondieblue227
blondieblue227 Va, USA Posts: 4,509
edited January 2010 in All Encompassing Trip
Do you think it should be taught?


(copied from the cause homepage)
The disability rights movement started at the same time other civil rights movements like, the African American movement and the women's movement began. However, it took several more years for laws to be passed that would grant equal rights to persons with disabilities. By teaching the history of the disability rights movement to our children, as part of the civil rights curriculum, we will open doors for inclusion, compassion, better communication and respect for our children with disabilities. Not only that, but how empowering for a child with a disability to learn that their voice matters. That people just like them had such an impact on our society. Persons with disabilities make up the largest minority group and are still fighting for equal rights, today. Disability does not discriminate; it's in every race, gender, sexual orientation and age group. Not only is it natural but, it's inevitable. We will all age and with age come issues with sight, mobility, hearing and cognition. Support this movement and you will be molding how you are treated when you become disabled.

join the facebook cause:
Add the History of the Disability Rights Movement to Curriculum
Teach the history of the disability rights movement as part of the civil rights curriculum.
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/395159/97706668




IF YOU DON'T HAVE FACEBOOK:
Add History of the Disability Rights Movement to School Curriculum Petition
to be presented to the US Department of Education
http://www.gopetition.com/online/33286.html

I agree this is necessary. People with disabilities are the largest minority group. Disability does not discriminate although, people with disabilities are often discriminated against. An education of disability history and rights would be befeficial to society.
*~Pearl Jam will be blasted from speakers until morale improves~*

Post edited by Unknown User on
«13456

Comments

  • 81
    81 Needing a ride to Forest Hills and a ounce of weed. Please inquire within. Thanks. Or not. Posts: 58,276
    i feel we need to worry about more important things in school.
    81 is now off the air

    Off_Air.jpg
  • blondieblue227
    blondieblue227 Va, USA Posts: 4,509
    that's fine.
    just trying to help spread the word.
    *~Pearl Jam will be blasted from speakers until morale improves~*

  • justam
    justam Posts: 21,415
    81 wrote:
    i feel we need to worry about more important things in school.

    You don't think this has a natural place in social studies? Teaching young people about tolerance and kindness towards people who are different is not a waste of time. It's one of the best ways to change attitudes in the future.
    &&&&&&&&&&&&&&
  • blondieblue227
    blondieblue227 Va, USA Posts: 4,509
    I get what your saying. I think this is more about civil rights. Not about sensitivity training which is your point. maybe a little bit of both but more focus on the civil rights fight. i mean teaching the civil rights aspect may lead to more sensitivity.
    *~Pearl Jam will be blasted from speakers until morale improves~*

  • _
    _ Posts: 6,657
    I joined!
  • DangDang
    DangDang Posts: 1,551
    What a great idea! (No pun intended)

    If disabilities law and rights were taught in school, those with special needs would be better understood and, better yet, appreciated for the struggles they must face.

    It would reduce the "difference" chasm by bringing the subject out in open for discussion in the classroom. It would make students (the younger the better) aware that special needs students don't only face their disabilities, they must also face segregation, non-acceptance, bullying, and--the worse offense--abuse by the adults they are entrusted with--teachers and staff. So it might be a learning experience for the teachers as well as the students.

    Considering that one in 91 children are diagnosed with autism--and that's one in every 40 to 50 boys (WTF!!!), the schools are going to be quite strained.

    I have a four year old son with autism and we are already facing gigantic cold brick walls from the school system. Teaching disabilities as a mater-of-factly--written right into the history books-- might help to bring down some of those walls and make disabilities more common place and acceptable, and looked upon with compassion and understanding, not with indifference or rejection or segregation.
  • soulsinging
    soulsinging Posts: 13,202
    justam wrote:
    81 wrote:
    i feel we need to worry about more important things in school.

    You don't think this has a natural place in social studies? Teaching young people about tolerance and kindness towards people who are different is not a waste of time. It's one of the best ways to change attitudes in the future.

    that should be done in the home. we demand too much of our schools and teachers as it is. they're teachers, not welfare workers, social workers, psychologists, doctors, or parents. let them teach. once we figure out a way to make sure our kids can learn to read and do basic math, which they're not doing now, then maybe we can talk about adding new subjects like playing nice to the curriculum.
  • blondieblue227
    blondieblue227 Va, USA Posts: 4,509
    But this is not about treatment of people with disabilities. I think some of you are missing the point.

    I’d like to see some facts about people with disabilities in school books, not a lesson on sensitivity.

    Martin L King was a civil rights leader.
    Ed Roberts was the father of the Independent Living Movement.

    Just the facts.
    Did you see my point?



    to the supporters, Thank You.
    *~Pearl Jam will be blasted from speakers until morale improves~*

  • DeLukin
    DeLukin Posts: 2,757
    Wow. I learned a lot just from the couple of sentences in your original post. I had no idea the Disability Rights movement was that old. I agree that it should be taught - it is, after all, part of American history and one sees the results of it everywhere.
    I smile, but who am I kidding...
  • soulsinging
    soulsinging Posts: 13,202
    blondieblue227 wrote:
    But this is not about treatment of people with disabilities. I think some of you are missing the point.

    I’d like to see some facts about people with disabilities in school books, not a lesson on sensitivity.

    Martin L King was a civil rights leader.
    Ed Roberts was the father of the Independent Living Movement.

    Just the facts.
    Did you see my point?

    to the supporters, Thank You.

    i suppose, but i kinda feel like MLK and that other guy are not in the same league. i never even heard of ed roberts. and this country's struggle with racism and slavery is a bit more integral to our history as a nation than the relatively uncontroversial passage of the ADA that gave us ramps on every building.
  • soulsinging
    soulsinging Posts: 13,202
    blondieblue227 wrote:
    We will all age and with age come issues with sight, mobility, hearing and cognition.

    when did simply getting old and dying like every other human on the planet become a disability?
  • blondieblue227
    blondieblue227 Va, USA Posts: 4,509
    edited December 2009
    soulsinging wrote:
    blondieblue227 wrote:
    We will all age and with age come issues with sight, mobility, hearing and cognition.

    when did simply getting old and dying like every other human on the planet become a disability?

    i didn't say that. the person who started that FB cause did.


    and the fact that you've never heard of that guy proves my point.


    uh come on soulsinging, we usually agree on stuff. :)
    Post edited by blondieblue227 on
    *~Pearl Jam will be blasted from speakers until morale improves~*

  • 81
    81 Needing a ride to Forest Hills and a ounce of weed. Please inquire within. Thanks. Or not. Posts: 58,276
    Roosevelt is taught in school, is he not? there is your lesson on disabilities.

    so long as you are not a woman (i jest), you can rise to the ultimate achievement in america by being president.
    81 is now off the air

    Off_Air.jpg
  • soulsinging
    soulsinging Posts: 13,202
    blondieblue227 wrote:
    i didn't say that.

    and the fact that you've never heard of that guy proves my point.

    uh come on soulsinging, we usually agree on stuff. :)

    yeah, but i'm anti-awareness and pc-stuff. i'm tired of every group with some adversity wanting a national holiday and a few days of our school curriculum devoted to their pet cause. and i'm VERY anti-anything that adds more to school curriculums. we're too busy making sure we find a token woman, black guy, mexican, amputee, etc to devote an entire history lesson to in order to prove we're enlightened and equal when we can't even find enough time to teach them how to read, write, and add. maybe once the rest of the world stops making our kids look like illiterate inbred monkeymen, i'll consider adding something more complex to our school load, like questions of ethics and tolerance. but until then, fuck all special interest curriculum changes until we reach a point where at least a high school drop out will know enough math to give me correct change at a gas station.

    it started with betsy ross for me. i'm sorry, she sewed a fucking flag. she's not a hero. we just needed to find a chick to praise to placate women. god forbid we acknowledge that historically, women weren't allowed to do shit and thus had little impact on history for a while. instead, we find this token of mediocre housewivery and act like that should be enough to inspire millions. i'm sorry, if you're too dumb to see through that bullshit and realize she didn't do shit worth remembering, then you're too dumb to be bothered by male oppression so wasting time on feel good stories like that is pointless anyhow.
  • blondieblue227
    blondieblue227 Va, USA Posts: 4,509
    edited December 2009
    Yeah SS I didn’t even have to read your whole post to know your standpoint.
    All the bleeding hearts of the world unite bullshit, right.
    I get it.
    Care about this, care about this. After while you tune it out, it all becomes a constant mind numbing drone after a while.

    I suppose you are the persuasion of George Carlin’s ‘nobody has rights’ huh. (In which I do see his point in some ways)

    If so, my continued message is completely pointless (to you SS) I’m aware. Lol!

    I started this thread because I myself am disabled. So it was a selfish post in some regards. But I also know the disabled community is the largest minority group, and it boggles my mind how often we are forgotten/abused/discriminated etc.

    But wait I’m not asking people to be more thoughtful or sensitive, I’m asking for my rights. Just give me my rights. It’s all right there in the ADA. It’s the law. To do so I believe our children need to know a little bit about the history of people with disabilities. How can American be the strongest it can be if a large chunk of it’s population is routinely marginalized?

    I don’t think this should be required reading in schools....but if anybody's interested:
    The New Disability History: American Perspectives
    http://www.amazon.com/New-Disability-Hi ... pd_sim_b_1

    soulsinging wrote:
    . and this country's struggle with racism and slavery is a bit more integral to our history as a nation than the relatively uncontroversial passage of the ADA that gave us ramps on every building.

    what i'm referring to is much larger then the ADA.
    If you think the only issue pertaining to the disabled community is the ADA, you are clueless. Beyond the usual abled-bodied clueless-ness. Hehehe!
    Post edited by blondieblue227 on
    *~Pearl Jam will be blasted from speakers until morale improves~*

  • IamMine
    IamMine Posts: 2,743
    I jus wanna do this....

    :x :shock: at some responses here...

    Blondie - like i've said before and i"ll say it again - you'd make a great spokewoman... and dealing with people in such a grateful and polite manner.

    :shock: :roll:

    That is exactly why we should teach at younger age and we wouldn't even be seeing such attitude like that. :P

    *says something in sign language that would have gotten me banned*

    there. I feel better. :P
    JA: Why do I get the Ticketmaster question?
    EV: It's your band.
    ~Q Magazine


    "Kisses for the glow...kisses for the lease." - BDRII
  • blondieblue227
    blondieblue227 Va, USA Posts: 4,509
    '*says something in sign language that would have gotten me banned*'

    LMAO!!! :lol:


    thanks for your support homegirl.


    thanks.......one of the reasons why i like the pj board is i get a run for my money. not everybody agrees. it's actually kind of fun to me.
    i mean just read the replies off of this one....... Mind you it was still when the board was free so there were more 'fun' people to talk with. ;)
    http://www.ivykennedy.com/chat/sicko.htm
    or
    http://www.ivykennedy.com/chat/ac.dc.htm

    they were so good, i had to keep em! :lol:laughing-smiley-tongue.gif
    *~Pearl Jam will be blasted from speakers until morale improves~*

  • redrock
    redrock Posts: 18,341
    blondieblue227 wrote:
    How can American be the strongest it can be if a large chunk of it’s population is routinely marginalized?

    Maybe even 10C could benefit from this....

    OK... I'm bitter.
  • soulsinging
    soulsinging Posts: 13,202
    blondieblue227 wrote:
    Yeah SS I didn’t even have to read your whole post to know your standpoint.
    All the bleeding hearts of the world unite bullshit, right.
    I get it.

    How can American be the strongest it can be if a large chunk of it’s population is routinely marginalized?

    I don't think you do get it, but that's what happens when you decide you don't have to read the whole post ;)

    My only point is a response to your question there, and it's another question: How can America be the strongest it can be if an EVEN LARGER chunk of its population is so thoroughly failed by an already overtaxed school system that it routinely finishes years of school without basic literacy and math skills? THAT is a far more alarming and pressing problem to my mind. It's not that I've got it in for disabled people or single their cause out. I think we need to axe about 75% of our current school curriculums and focus on teaching our kids valuable and useful skills instead of trying to give them what amounts to a humanities-lite degree in its uselessness.
  • blondieblue227
    blondieblue227 Va, USA Posts: 4,509
    there, now that i understand.

    like i told 81 i'm cool with his/her opinion.

    that was much straight forward and to the point than your other posts.
    *~Pearl Jam will be blasted from speakers until morale improves~*

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