How Ability Inclusive Thinking Impacts What We Teach
I recently had the pleasure of working with a group of curriculum writers who work with an organization called OpenSciEd which provides NGSS-aligned, open access science curriculum for schools. I was asked to join a planning meeting for a new unit they’re working on for middle school that will center around injury, particularly the body’s response to injury in terms of body structures and functions. In our initial call, the unit lead and I discussed her desire to make sure that they were writing a unit that was truly inclusive, and invited me to share some information about disability with the team so that they could use that to inform their planning and writing.
During this call, I shared some basic information that frames disability as a part of human diversity and draws participants’ attention to the different models of disability. We talked about the ways that society perpetuates thinking that’s in line with the Medical model of disability, where disability is thought to be an affliction that needs to be fixed, and how The Nora Project aligns more with the Social and Biopsychosocial models of disability, in which society plays a greater role than biology and physiology in disabling individuals. Then we discussed the nature of the unit, specifically how healing is a biological process that takes place in the body, but that the word “healed” has implications of its own. That all bodies heal differently, and that a return to “normal” body function is relative to each individual.
The fact that this conversation took place in the first place shows that the folx at OpenSciEd are utilizing Ability-Inclusive thinking. The lead knew that in order to make the unit truly inclusive and reflective of the breadth of human “healing” experiences, the team would need guidance. Now, this unit will give students the tools to redefine what healing is to include adaptation after the biological processes of healing have ended. It will be so beneficial to students and teachers to consider the non-biological aspects of healing, like adaptation and use of assistive technology, which will also go a long way in helping to cultivate an Ability Inclusive Mindset. Additionally, students with disabilities will have the chance to see themselves represented in the curriculum - an occurrence that is all too rare in schools today.
If your organization or teaching team is working on a project and you’d like to ensure that it is ability inclusive, The Nora Project can help! We offer consulting services at a reasonable price to help bring ability inclusive thinking to the forefront in all kinds of learning experiences. You can reach out to me at katy@thenoraproject.ngo to schedule an appointment. We can’t wait to work with you!