WRAP-UP
Physical Disabilities Unit
Now that you’ve had the Physical Disabilities unit, here are a few follow up activities so you can learn more and have fun. Choose one, two or all three!
Read the book
All the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything, by Annette Bay Pimentel
Also available as a free e-book through the Minuteman Library Network: All the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything
Need more help? Check with your school librarian or your local library. For more ways to find books, you can click this link: Find Books!
If you have any trouble getting the book from a library, here is a link to a read-aloud by the author of the book on YouTube:
Try This!
Accessibility Walk Activity: Go on an accessibility walk in your neighborhood.
In the book, Jennifer Keelan experienced barriers when using her wheelchair. She fought for changes to be made. Go on an accessibility walk in your neighborhood. Look at some of the following things and see if they everyone could use them, or if changes should be made:
- Sidewalks -are they well-paved and wide enough?
- Curbs – do they have curb cuts and are level with the street?
- Crosswalks – are they well-marked and safe?
- Playgrounds – can children with disabilities join their friends at every level? Is the surface of the playground good for wheelchairs and other things with wheels?
- Buildings open to the public – do they have ramps and automatic doors?
- Transportation – do bus stops and buses or other transit have features that help people with disabilities find them, wait for them and get on them?
Next steps: Find leaders in your neighborhood or town to contact to discuss the changes that need to be made so everyone can go where they need and want to go and play together!
Interview an Expert!
Ask a parent if you have a relative or family friend with a physical disability. Contact that person and interview them using this conversation starter and questions (but feel free to ask some of your own, too!).
Try This!
Interview an Expert with a Physical Disability.
Conversation Starter –
Thank you for talking to me. I am learning about Physical Disabilities through the Understanding Our Differences program at school. I’d like to ask you a few questions so I can understand your experiences.
- How and when did your physical disability start? Was it something you had from when you were born, from an illness or getting older, or from an injury?
- Do you use any special techniques, strategies or technology to help you get around, or to accomplish things you want to do? Please describe those to me and give me an example or two of what you use and how it helps.
- Have you ever had someone treat you differently because you have a physical disability? How do you want people to treat you? What is your favorite way for people to offer help?
- What kinds of hobbies do you have? Do you have a pet, either now or earlier? What activities do you enjoy?
Thank you very much for speaking with me today.
I’ve learned that it’s important to understand people’s experiences with disabilities, and also to understand what people have in common. (Tell the person if you too like one of their hobbies or interests.)
The Understanding Our Differences curriculum is protected by copyright, © 2010-2023. Understanding Our Differences, Inc. All rights reserved. The Understanding Our Differences curriculum is not to be altered, photocopied, shared with other entities, or reproduced in any way, and is not to be resold.