Disability inclusion in the classroom matters. And a teacher looking for ways to talk about disability with their students may not know where or how to begin.
That’s where this guide comes in: we’ve pulled together lots of helpful resources, tips and information that offer simple ways for teachers at all levels to incorporate a culture of disability inclusion and inclusive learning in their classrooms, whether or not there are students with apparent disabilities.
Here at Perkins, we help kids with disabilities find their place in the world, with a focus on demystifying disability and promoting inclusion for everyone – and we hope this guide gives mainstream teachers a head start on doing the same.
Defining disability
If you want to prioritize disability inclusion, it will help to understand how “disability” is defined. You may be surprised to learn that 19% of the global population has a disability – that’s about 1.6 billion people!
While some disabilities are visible, there are many that are non-apparent, situational, or temporary – including some visual, auditory, mobility, and neurocognitive disabilities. In Defining the four main types of disability, we dive deeper into how we approach the spectrum of disabilities.
Within that spectrum, there is so much nuance. Every individual experiences things differently. The same condition can affect people in different ways.
And there’s still so much more to learn. For example, CVI (Cerebral / Cortical Visual Impairment) is a brain-based visual impairment that is currently the leading cause of childhood blindness. But because CVI is not yet widely recognized or diagnosed, many children are living with visual impairments as a result of a condition that their families, doctors and educators don’t understand.
This is why creating a culture and environment that prioritizes inclusion and accessibility as a standard is so important – so that you’re ready to accommodate kids who may have a variety of needs that shift and change over the course of their time in the classroom.
Demystifying disability to build empathy and understanding
Many teachers are committed to fostering inclusive learning environments that promote diversity – but often, disability inclusion is left out of the conversation. Perhaps there’s no one in the class with an apparent disability, so it doesn’t seem relevant. Or, perhaps it’s because disability can be difficult and uncomfortable to discuss.
But we promise: once you start the discussion, you’ll find that one of the best ways to demystify disability is to talk about it – a lot!
And talking about disability doesn’t have to be saved for a “very special lesson.” It can be incorporated to add an interesting twist to everyday learning – even when there isn’t a student with an apparent disability in the class.
Here are some examples:
Communication: Teaching about different ways that people communicate or read/write? Add in this guide to how the braille alphabet works. You can even download free worksheets and flashcards and have students practice writing their names in braille.
History: Teaching about civil rights and significant advocacy moments throughout history? Don’t miss an opportunity to cover the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which made accessibility and accommodation the law of the land.
Helping students become familiar with real people with lived disability experience is another excellent way to build empathy and understanding.
Helen Keller, the extended cut: At some point in school, almost every student learns about Helen Keller – but there’s so much more to her than anyone can cover in a single unit! In Building a better Helen Keller lesson plan, we go beyond The Miracle Worker to explore the full person Helen became: advocate, author, adventurer and so much more!
It’s a BlindNewWorld: On BlindNewWorld, folks who are blind (and their allies) share stories – both ordinary and extraordinary – about their everyday lives. It’s a great resource for people who may not know a lot about blindness to learn more through the perspectives of first-hand experience. On Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), BlindNewWorld posts daily news about advances in accessibility, progress in advocacy and share-worthy stories of disability pride. On Instagram, BlindNewWorld amplifies content from disabled creators and their allies – a mix of activism and fun that will inspire both empowerment and some lighthearted laughs for young adult students.
Blindness myths, busted: Because disability isn’t often talked about, there’s a lot that people don’t understand – and that’s a perfect breeding ground for myths, misconceptions and assumptions to take hold. In Debunking 3 common assumptions about folks who are blind, we tackle some of the myths we hear about most frequently.
Creating inclusive spaces that work for everyone
Building an environment that includes everyone means considering everything from the culture to the physical space.
Using inclusive language sets the tone for a culture of accommodation and respect:
When in doubt, ask: From pronouns to how someone defines themselves within the context of their disability, if you have questions about how they identify, feel free to politely ask so that you can refer to them in the way that’s most comfortable for them. Learn more in our guide to person-first language.
Keep current with terminology: Language moves fast and terminology that was once ok may not be any more. In The evolution of disability language and labels, we explore how disability language in particular has evolved over time, and how you can ensure that the words you use have the intended impact.
Whether you’re setting up your classroom or planning an event, there are ways – big and small – to ensure that everyone has equal access to the information being shared. These resources have some great tips:
Events made accessible: Disability is a spectrum – and accommodations vary. One person may require a ramp to access the physical space while someone else might need a form of DisabilityTech to access the information that’s being shared. Though it was written with business events (conferences, etc.) in mind, this guide to accessible events helps you consider the possibilities – and how to make them a part of your planning process from the start so that every event is as accessible as it can be.
Making learning about disability fun
Disability can feel like a heavy topic – but the more familiar it becomes, the more normal it will feel. And there’s no better way to make that happen than by incorporating the learning into play.
Add disabled characters to your classroom’s library:Wonder, a story about a boy with facial differences, cracked the mainstream and made its way onto school bookshelves, creating a wonderful foundation for discussions of disabilities and differences. Books like The Cane Kids, Magic Eyes, Braille Boy,The Adventures of Marshmallow and Peter and those from the Able Fables collection can keep that conversation going. Including books like these on your shelves – not in a special section, but among the books that a student might just pluck out – is a powerful way to normalize the presence of disabled characters in media.
Create sensory and tactile learning experiences that are naturally inclusive: Kids with disabilities, particularly those with visual impairments, can gain a lot of information through touch – and incorporating this kind of learning is enjoyable and educational for everyone. Sensory play can be used in lessons about math, language, art and more. For younger students, sensory bins can be used to support learning about matching, counting and even pretend play (video). For older students, making tactile maps, creating tactile art or growing sensory gardens are interesting, exciting ways to tap into all of their senses.
The key to disability inclusion is people like you
Thank you for making disability inclusion a priority in your classroom. At Perkins, we are working hard to help kids with disabilities find their place in the world – and people like you are helping us to make that world more inclusive and accessible.
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