Class+2

Agenda

Next Class – Read Chapter 2
 * 1) Presentation Topics & Expectations
 * 2) Dealing with differences
 * 3) Labels
 * 4) Manitoban History
 * Note: Join wiki spaces AND request to join the course wiki*

Icebreaker: Played a game; musical/rhythmic learning style. Go around in a circle, all following the following rhythmic pattern: Pat (hands on knees) clap (hands together) snap (fingers) snap (fingers) Each person in turn says to the rhythm, “Hi, I’m [insert name here]” and the rest of the group responds “Hello, [person’s name]”

1) Presentation topics & Expectations The class was informed as to which topic each of us would be covering for our presentations as well as which other students we would be working with. We all received a marking guide handout as well. The presentations are to be 15 minutes and should focus on what we would want to know AS A TEACHER if one of our students had the disability that we are looking at.

2) Dealing with differences Group discussions: “How has society dealt with people who are different?” Ideas we collected from the class include: From the text:
 * Exclusion/Lack of accommodation
 * And “In or Out” or “Us and Them” mentality
 * Burying or ignoring the issue
 * Forming a bias and selectively finding facts to support that bias (the “good ones” are the exception mentality)
 * Go out of their way to include them (i.e. Affirmative Action)
 * Extermination (get rid of them in order to protect society)
 * Segregation (separate them in order to protect them as well as society)
 * Benevolence (Allow them to participate out of pity, but is dehumanising)
 * Community (include them and value each other’s contributions)


 * D**ifferent
 * I**ndividuals
 * V**aluing
 * E**ach other
 * R**egardless of
 * S**kin colour,
 * I**ntellect,
 * T**alent or
 * Y**ears

3) Labels A Handicap is the interaction between a person’s disability and a situation that results in a barrier for the individual. For example, if a person in a wheelchair is in a fully wheelchair accessible building, there is no handicap, but in a building that is NOT accessible, the lack of accessibility creates the handicap. A Disability is a problem that makes it difficult to perform particular tasks, such as walking or reading. An Impairment is a physical, cognitive or psychological difference from the norm

[|TAKE THE PLEDGE:] An online pledge not to use the word retarded to mean stupid; only to use the words in its actually meaning of “slow.”

Labels can be a double edged sword; they give us a basis to discuss, learn and accommodate people who have disabilities, but they also create a prejudice based on a stereotype, confining individuals to one category.

4) Manitoban History In 1958: Decided that all people aged 6 to 21 shall attend school UNLESS mentally defective. These people can even be barred from entering schools, and the onus of proof is on the student (to prove that they are NOT “mentally defective.”)

Private school were created for students with disabilities: Manitoba School for Retardates, School for the Deaf, Brantford School for the Blind, and parent-run schools (1955) as well as the kinsmen school (by 1964, 316 students were enrolled.)

In 1965, the mentally defective section of the above act was removed. Some school divisions took over the parent-run schools. By 1970, most school divisions had special schools or classes (which were still segregated.)

Private-run schools for the mentally disabled were generally disbanded due to the exposure of abuse in these institutions and the advent of the civil rights movement, including new legislation in the United States. Wolfensberger introduced the "[|Principle of Normalization]" which advocates as normal a life as can be made possible for people with disabilities.

The 1980's introduced the concept of [|Mainstreaming], which put students with disabilities into any classes where they could meet the expectations of the course. Despite this one inclusive aspect, students with disabilities were still generally segregated.

1982 brought forth the new [|Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms] which was the first in the world to guarantee the rights of people with disabilities. in Manitoba, a [|Special Education Review] was commissioned to look at the practices in Manitoban schools with regards to students with disabilities. The review made 44 recommendations, which resulted in [|Bill 13 (Appropriate Educational Programming)] which basically states that ALL students should be in the regular classroom and whatever services and supports that are required must be provided.