"LIFE WITH A DISABILITY

1
"LIFE WITH A DISABILITYLesson Plan

• The following lesson may be used to promote
  sensitivity and understanding towards students
  with disabilities.

2
Warm-Up

• Read the definition of disability in the
  dictionary.
• Is it described in a positive, negative, or
  neutral way?
• How do you feel when you see someone in a
  wheelchair?
• What kinds of assumptions or judgments do you
  make about that person?
• If you had a friend in a wheelchair, would they
  be able to enter your house? List places that you
  can think of that aren't "handicap accessible."

3
Background Knowledge

• Ask students to write or tell their responses to
  these questions
• What are some things you would have to stop doing
  if your were in a wheelchair today?
• What are some places you couldn't go to today?
• How would being in a wheelchair affect your
  attitude?
• How about your self-esteem?

4
Read the essay

• "LIFE WITH A DISABILITY" by Amber Junker
• I have a disability called spina bifida, which
  has prevented me from being able to walk so I
  use a wheelchair to get me around. Being in a
  wheelchair isn't easy because I have a lot of
  things to deal with. It is not easy for me to go
  to a lot of places because they aren't
  handicapped-accessible, even though they may say
  they are. Some examples of places like that are
  restrooms in buildings such as hotels and
  restaurants also state park hiking trails,
  showers, and restrooms. Having this disability
  has given me lots more than this to deal with. I
  have to deal with people as well. Some of them
  are more rude and inconsiderate to me than they
  would be to an able-bodied person, just because
  I'm handicapped. People think that just because I
  can't use my legs I can't use the rest of my body
  and they think I can't do as much as I can. I can
  do a lot -- just not as well as others. That is
  one way I differ from others.
• I can't do any sports that require using legs
  since I can't walk. That does not mean I can't
  enjoy sports. Aside from being disabled and in a
  wheelchair, I have a few of the same problems
  other teens my age have. Problems such as death
  and peer pressure. Other problems I don't have
  but I know are problems are violence, AIDS, drugs
  and alcohol, and gangs.
• Hopefully I won't have any of these problems in
  the future. Why death is a problem to me is
  because my dad died when I was 14 years old. Peer
  pressure comes along when I am with friends. I
  tend to pick on my little brother more often when
  my friends are around. I don't really mind my
  disability anymore. I have gotten used to it over
  the years. But I think people should get to know
  me better. Then they would be nicer because they
  would realize I'm really not a bad person.
• While it has not been easy to deal with my
  disability, luckily I have some really terrific
  friends. I don't know what I would do without
  them. They have been a big help. I think it helps
  that I have a positive attitude about myself, and
  also it helps that I am really so independent.
• This essay is reprinted from the book From
  Darkness to Light Teens Write About How They
  Triumphed Over Trouble with permission of the
  publisher, Fairview Press.

5
Class Activity

• After students read the essay, invite them to
  write or discuss (as a class, or in small groups)
  their thoughts about these questions
• What are some things that would change about you
  if you were in a wheelchair today?
• Could you be happy in a wheelchair?
• What is a disability that would be most difficult
  for you?
• Would your friends change?
• Why or why not?

6
Extension Activities

• Use the essays in From Darkness to Light to
  motivate students to think and to write about
  obstacles and challenges they've faced.