The Best of Us-

And Where
They’re Hiding
PLAN to Change The World- Colleen Roth
Hey! You!

Did you know that ⅓ of the population has an intellectual disability? Autism, Downs
Syndrome, etc. ?!

For those who don’t know, an intellectual disability can be identified and characterized by 3
factors….

1. IQ is below 70-75
2. There are significant limitations in two or more adaptive areas (skills that are
needed to live, work, and play in the community, such as communication or self-

care)
3. The condition manifests itself before the age of 18
So, why don’t I see them out and about
in the community?

Often, they’re at home or at day programs all day during the day
because their lower IQ sometimes precludes them from finishing
school and/or getting and keeping a job or career. They are often
bullied by their peers in school and that along with low IQ
sometimes forces them to not finish high school. Maintaining long-
term friendships are also very hard for them sometimes.
O
Different Perspectives.

VS
Perspective #1 on People with
Disabilities

-’They’re weird/ they do awkward things.’

-’They make me uncomfortable!’

-’They’re so funny sometimes… I try to be nice, though.’

-’ I pity them, honestly.’

Perspective #2 on People with
Disabilities

-“These people may be different from me, but that is what makes them beautiful. They can
teach me a lot of valuable life lessons”

(Opinion, from a spiritual perspective, no one has a disability and maybe, just maybe, the
chose to have a disability before they got to earth… I don’t know if I believe that part myself,
but it is something I’ve heard”

***Accepting those who are different from you in any way is hard and takes a lot of work
sometimes- it takes a lifetime! I’m still working on aspects of this myself. It isn’t easy, but it’s
worth it!
Curriculum- Why is This Left Out?
- Unless a teacher has personal experience with someone with
a disability, they sometimes don’t feel comfortable talking
about them and their struggles.
- The noteworthy accomplishments of the disability
community are not the same as those of the non-disability
community. Therefore, we may need to re-examine our
standards for success as a society!
- Teachers of younger students may worry that telling this
community’s stories may make their little ones uncomfortable
or sad if they’ve never seen anyone with a disability.
Hidden Curriculum

People with disabilities are defying the odds and

contributing to the world every single day.

Here are some examples of people I’ve met who

don’t let their disability define them. I hope you
find them as inspiring as I do...
1. Matt B.
I have to say that probably the LEAST notable thing about my good friend Matt is that he’s
been diagnosed with Autism. He’s a 28 year-old Ambassador and Speaker for Best Buddies
Arizona, avid texter, Hospital employee, construction worker and amazing friend. Doctors
said he’d never walk or talk, and he’s proving them wrong every day!
Eliza I.
I credit my good friend Eliza with changing my life and making me want to go into SPED,
.She has a muscle disorder that forces her to wear a leg brace but that doesn’t stop her from
being in dance productions at our high school, being a social justice advocate and being very
positive! Also, she is set to graduate on time in May after being out for 18 months to recover
from a procedure
How Can We PLAN to Change The
World?
As teachers, we often forget that it's our job to cover AND TEACH TO EVERYONE.

Know, support and befriend those with disabilities in your community or at your school.
Assist them in finding resources or in any other way you can.

Don’t talk down to them.

Highlight congresspeople, public figures, dancers, anyone notable with disabilities in your
curriculum. This is especially important if you’re a SPED teacher.

Show everyone love and support

Sources
1. Catapano, Peter. “A Front-Page Insult to People With
Disabilities.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 26
July 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/07/26/opinion/new-york-
post-disabilities-wheelchairs.html.
2. Gollnick, Donna M. & Chinn, Phillip C. Multicultural Education in
a Pluralistic Society. 10th Edition. New York, NY. Pearson.
3. “What Is Intellectual Disability?” Dot Org, 31 July 2018,
www.specialolympics.org/about/intellectual-disabilities/what-
is-intellectual-disability.