ACTIVITIES
GRADE 7 - 8
DISABILITY SUPPORT INVENTION
In this activity, students will get into groups to research current equipment, technology or other supports that disabled people use and will put their own realistic spin on it. With the help of their teacher, they will illustrate either digitally or on paper a prototype to present to the class. It will be a competition with 3 top places (Gold, Silver, Bronze). The group that researches and develops the best and most realistic prototype will win.
OUTCOMES
1- Learn the various equipment and technology that disabled people use.
2- Encourage use of creativity and innovation to assist the disabled community.
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1
Get students get into small groups and have them choose from the list of equipment and technologies that disabled people use.
Step 2
Have the groups research their chosen item. They should know the inventor(s), have a basic understanding of how it works, and put together an action plan on creating a prototype inspired by their item.
Step 3
Students can choose to illustrate/design their prototype with physical materials (paper, cardboard, etc.) or electronically.
Step 4
Students will present their prototypes to their class. The presentation will demonstrate how it works, how it’s inspired by their chosen item, and why it’s the most feasible to develop.
DISABILITY SUPPORT PROFESSIONS REPORT
In this activity, students will research and write an individual report on a profession that provides services to people with disabilities. Students will research the education and training needed in the chosen profession.
OUTCOMES
1- Learn the professions that support people with disabilities.
2- Learn the education and training those professions require.
3- Learn about new career possibilities.
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1
Students will select a profession that supports people with disabilities that is of interest to them.
Step 2
After gathering information and having a basic understanding of what the profession entails day-to-day, as well as the education and training needed, students will write a report.
Step 3
The report should outline why the student chose it, why they would thrive in the profession and why they would be valuable to supporting people with disabilities, what the work in this profession looks like (is it paperwork, labour intensive, a mix of both?), and outline what college, university and outside education training is needed to perform and secure this job.
COMMUNITY SURVEY
ON DISABILITIES
In this activity, students will get into groups and survey an older generation to gain insight on their attitudes towards people with disabilities. Once the answers are collected, they will discuss as a class their findings.
OUTCOMES
1- Learn the similarities and differences among older generations' attitudes towards people with disabilities.
2- Learn about disability awareness in older generations.
3- Encourage the older generation to be part of this supportive and positive movement of highlighting accessibility.
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1
Have students get into small groups and have them brainstorm a person who is 40+ Years old to survey. Each group member is required to survey someone and it can’t be their family.
Step 2
Either by phone, email or in person, have the students send out the following list of questions to their chosen participant:
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Did you know a person with a disability growing up?
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Was the disability visible or non-visible?
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How were they treated?
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Do you think people’s attitudes have changed about people with disabilities?
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How can we help encourage a positive and empowering outlook toward people with disabilities?
Step 3
Have students bring in their recorded answers, and check that each group member has the questions answered by their participant.
Step 4
Start a class discussion going group by group to share their findings.
Step 5
At the end of the activity, ask the students what their favourite or most interesting finding was.
VISION IMPAIRMENT SIMULATION ACTIVITY
In this activity, the teacher will use an overhead projector with a page of text that will be blurred/ out of focus to simulate vision impairment. The students will be asked to do their best to read the blurred text. The level of difficulty will then be discussed as well as how they can support a person with vision impairment.
OUTCOMES
1- Learn the level of vision impairments (low, medium, high).
2- Encourage students to ask for help when they need it.
3- Collaborate on how to assist someone with vision impairment.
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1
Have the overhead projector set up in the classroom out of focus. Choose a single page of text. This could be song lyrics, an article, a grocery shopping list.
Step 2
Select students with their hands up to try to read the blurred text page.
Step 3
After listening to a few students, wrap up the activity and discuss its difficulty.
Step 4
Discuss the importance of asking if you can be of assistance to someone with vision impairment.
Disability Support Invention Activity: Disabilities Awareness Merit Badge. Boy Scouts of America. (2023, February 6). Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/disabilities-awareness/
Disability Support Professions Report: Disabilities Awareness Merit Badge. Boy Scouts of America. (2023, February 6). Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/disabilities-awareness/
Community Survey on Disabilities: Powered by NCTE. (n.d.). Exploring disability using multimedia and the B-D-A reading strategy. Exploring Disability Using Multimedia and the B-D-A Reading Strategy. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/exploring-disability-using-multimedia
Vision Impairment Simulation Activity: Adapted from Adcock, B., & Remus, M. L. (2006). Disability Awareness Activity Packet. Possibilities INC.