Ableism and Accessibility
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School
University of Nebraska, Kearney *
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Course
473
Subject
Communications
Date
Feb 20, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
2
Uploaded by AdmiralCaterpillar4049
Pre-Reading Reflection Questions (Column 1)
1.
What is ableism?
Ableism is a set of stereotypes and actions that devalue and discriminate against people with disabilities. It presupposes that non-disabled people's bodies and minds
are the default, assigning value to them based on society's ideas of what is normal.
2.
Do you have ableist behaviors? How can you work toward changing your own ableist actions?
I would say that I sometimes have ableist behaviors and don’t even realize it. For example, if I tell my roommate “Are you blind? It’s right in front of you.” I can work to change my own ableist actions by being more considerate and trying to see things
more from others point of views.
Post-Reading Reflection Questions (Column 2)
1.
How do you create an accessible learning environment for all students?
Learning materials should be able to support assistive technology such as screen readers, speech recognition software, and text-to-speech software
so that students with visual, hearing, or physical disabilities can access them easily. I also think it’s important to maintain positive relationships with students and parents as well as making sure to keep a positive mindset.
2.
What are ways your learning environment might be inaccessible?
The adoption of appropriate assistive technology for students helps lead to increases in academic performance and independence. If I don’t have the proper assistive technology in place in my classroom I might not be meeting all of my students' academic needs.
Discussion Questions (Column 3)
1.
What does ableism look like in your learning environments?
Ableism in my environment would be openly expressing or implying that students with disabilities are less capable or intelligent. It could also include attendance and grading policies that do not accommodate mental health or sensory needs or segregating students with disabilities from their peers unnecessarily. Lastly, ableism in my environment might be designing activities without considering physical accessibility for all.
2.
Can you name ableist language and actions of others, and if so, how?
Terms such as blind, deaf, dumb, and psycho can
be associated with a person's identity or their challenges, and because of that, it can be interpreted as insulting or hurtful.
3.
Did you know any of the disability rights activists in these chapters?
No, I didn’t know anything about these activists until I read these chapters.
4.
Which of these activists made an impact on your learning?
The activist Kuna Tavalin made an impact on my learning. Her advocacy and engagement which is wide-ranging includes appropriations, early childhood home visiting, early childhood education care, and special education, as well as family engagement, abuse and neglect prevention, and juvenile justice. She is also highly involved in the Council for Exceptional Children, which advocates on behalf of children with exceptionalities.
Another activist that made an impact on my learning from a previous chapter was President Kennedy made an impact on my learning as I was able to learn about the sweeping legislation he was able to initiate that was designed to improve the lives of Americans with disabilities. For example, on October 24, 1963, President Kennedy signed the Maternal and Child Health and Mental Retardation Planning Amendment to the Social Security Act. This was the first major legislation to combat mental illness and intellectual disabilities. The amendment incorporated many of the panel's recommendations and provided planning grants to enable states to update their intellectual disabilities programs. It also increased funding for prevention through maternity and infant care.
5.
How will you teach others about these activists, and what more do you need to learn to do this?
I would teach about what they fought for, what they were able to pass, and how it plays an impact in our society today. I can incorporate this information into history lessons in my future classroom.
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