Disability History and Culture

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Disability History and Culture
Regional Center for Independent Living Youth
Transition / YIELD Program
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Ed Roberts

• Ed Roberts- Known as the Father of Disability
  Rights. He was diagnosed with polio at age 14.
  Opened the first Independent Living Center in
  1972

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Wade Blank

• Marched with Martin Luther King Jr. Founded the
  Atlantis Community in 1974, it was a model for
  community-based, consumer-controlled, independent
  living.

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Judi Chamberlin

• Discovered that patients in mental hospital had
  no legal rights and were treated like prisoners.
  She co-founded a group of psychiatric survivors
  called Mental Patients Liberations Front in the
  early 70s.

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Nancy Ward

• Labeled Mentally Retarded as a child. Created a
  petition opposing a commercial soliciting money
  for the Special Olympics due to it asking these
  people to pity these children, the commercial was
  later cancelled. Joined other advocates and had
  the words moron and idiot eliminated from the
  Nebraska State Legislature.

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ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) A
Landmark Declaration of Equality

• Signed by President George H. W. Bush on July
  22,1990
• Prior to this law people with significant
  disabilities were treated as sub humans
• Some were killed or left as beggar outcasts to
  die (worst)
• Others were poorly cared for through subsistence
  welfare in out of site out of mind institutions
  (best)
• ADA- landmark commandment of fundamental human
  morality. This was the worlds first declaration
  of equality for people with disabilities

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ADA A Landmark Declaration of Equality (cont)

• This law opened the door to many opportunities
  for millions of isolated, dependant Americans
• They were now legally allowed to become
  employees, taxpayers, and active participants in
  their communities

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Justin Dart

• Chairman of the Presidents Committee on
  Employment of People with Disabilities
• Served three terms on the National Council on
  Disabilities (term length- 3 years)
• Was an active participant in the development of
  the ADA
• Chaired an ADA focused Congressional task force
  on Employment of People with Disabilities

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Mountain Adventure Game

• Climbing up a mountain and there is an avalanche
  and two of the people that you are traveling with
  are injured
• One person must travel down the mountain to get
  help and will have to spend the night on the
  mountain alone
• That person can only carry 14 items with them
  because they need to travel quickly and the least
  amount of things they have with them the better
• Choose the 14 items as a group from the list of
  37 that has been given to you

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Additional Information

• You already have the following items on
• gtPlastic Climbing Boots
• gtGaiters (to keep snow out of your boots)
• gtA fleece jacket
• gtFleece Trousers
• gtA fleece hat
• gtWaterproof Mittens
• gtThermal underwear
• gtSocks
• Assume that you will have the following essential
  climbing gear
• gtRopes
• gtSlings
• gtIce axe and hammer
• gtClimbing harness
• gtRock Piton (metal spike driven into a crack in
  a rock to use and an anchor for the climber)

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Answers to Mountain Adventure Game

• These are the 14 items that experts would
  recommend that you have

• Water bottle
• Propane Stove
• Large Tin Mug
• Swiss Army Knife
• Matches
• Waterproof Trousers
• Windproof Jacket with
• hood

• Compass
• Map
• Instant Food Pack
• Headlamp with Lithium Batteries
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Down Sleeping Bag w/
• Waterproof exterior

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Discussion Questions

• Why did you choose the items that you did?
• How did you choose the items that were eventually
  chosen?
• Was it easy to come to agreement on what items to
  leave behind? Why?
• How close was your list to that of the expert
  recommended list provided?

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The Label Game

• Your objective of this activity is to write a
  jingle or advertisement for Sonic Burgers

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Discussion Questions

• What was your label?
• How did it feel for people to treat you
  differently?
• Was it frustrating for people to treat you
  differently?

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List Yourself Game

• Pick one strip out of the basket
• Tell what the statement says that you chose out
  of the bowl
• Answer the statement
• Example
• gtList the first thoughts that run through your
  mind when you get up.
• Answer Make coffee, take a shower and do the
  things I do to get ready, get the kids up and
  dressed, leave for work