December 3rd is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This inclusion activity celebrates everyone's abilities using the help of adapted books and an art activity. Talking to your students about disabilities can help them gain a better understanding of why some people look, talk, act, or move a little bit differently. This adapted book explains what is a disability and also that the disability does NOT define the person. There are so many beautiful talents, accommodations and interests that make each person resilient and special! As a follow up, you can ask each student to reflect on themselves by designing their head portrait. They can include their talents, interests and anything that makes them unique! By displaying this on a bulletin board with mirrors, it becomes a display for inclusion and affirmation! This activity can be used for Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 or beyond! I created this resource for a special education class (SK to Grade 8) and they were all able to benefit! ----------------------------------------------------- Adapted Book: International Day of Persons with Disabilities There are many uses of this adapted book: Teacher reading the adapted book in front of the class and students taking turns moving the PECs Add to your class books set to include diverse cultural holidays and celebrations Printing the package and each student in the class and assemble it and bring home to parents to show their learning Students reading the book independently (Especially great for non-verbal students to actively participate in reading the book) After reading, it can be hung and displayed on bulletin boards among art projects your class has made. Other students around the school and flip through and learn something new about the holiday! This printable disability awareness activity covers: What is a disability (explained for kids) Invisible and visible disabilities Examples of kids who have disabilities Physical disability and his interest in basketball Dyslexia and hands-on building Blind and reading Autism, augmentative communication and savant interests Hearing impaired and dancing Down syndrome and makeup ----------------------------------------------------- Art Activity Each student can decorate and colour their personal head silhouette! They can include their interests, talents and anything that makes them, THEM! If students need assistance, they can select, cut & paste from the options provided! Optional: Display on a bulletin board or in your classroom to remind your students that they are AMAZING! I included mirrors (that can be found at the Dollar Store) and the words of affirmations, so that it can be a pick me up for anyone that needs reminders of how special they are :) ----------------------------------------------------- What are adapted books? Adapted Books for Special Education are activities that are modified to fit a child's specific needs and is often found in special education or autism classrooms. They usually include visual supports and tactile objects that allow the student to actively participate in the book. By incorporating these activities in your special education literacy program it increase attention due to the familiar stories/pictures & hands-on nature and also increases phonemic awareness by the use of high frequency words. The reading comprehension page is a great way to assess the student's understanding of the story. ----------------------------------------------------- Who would benefit from Adapted Books? Speech therapy, autism, developmental delay, special education or preschool & primary classrooms Students who lack interest in reading regular books or worksheets Students who LOVE movies and animated characters Hands-on learners Students who often rip papers or put papers in mouth (due to lamination) Students who thrive on repetition Students who need visual supports when learning ----------------------------------------------------- Adapted Book Benefits: Increased story comprehension Higher engagement Matching pictures practice Build fluency with frequently used sight words or personally meaningful words to the child Build vocabulary Could be used to teach a skill (ex. Social Story) ----------------------------------------------------- Find more similar resources here: Cultural Holiday & Celebration Lessons Adapted Books Literacy Activities ----------------------------------------------------- Do you want 5 FREE ADAPTED BOOKS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION?! 4 Easy steps to get the free adapted books Go to https://mailing-list.individualizedvisuals.com Enter your name and email address Check your inbox or junk folder for an email from me! [email protected] Download & Print your FREE PDFs! You will receive the 5 free adapted books across 5 days so be sure to add my email to your contact list or select “Not junk” so you don’t miss any of the FREEBIES! ----------------------------------------------------- I really hope you enjoy this activity :) I would love if you can give me a FOLLOW, all your support is so appreciated <3 I will continue to upload more resources and FREEBIES soon! Thank you so much! I appreciate all your support :) Terms of Use
33 Awesome Disability Awareness Activities and Games for Students of All Ages, special section for elementary or younger students.
Autism awareness and acceptance, neurodiversity affirming, or disability activity in the form of a social skills story and narrative plus print activities. Learn about autism, social emotional learning, and preschool friendship skills.
Celebrate neurodiversity during autism acceptance / disability awareness month, or anytime of the year as an arts and craft activity along with diversity and inclusion lessons! This set of 44 coloring pages range from more simple to more complex, to meet the needs of learners from elementary to high school. I use these with my special education high school students every year when we celebrate disability awareness. What's Included: ✧ 44 Coloring Pages - for any age ✧ Additional coloring pages with instructions on page (for classroom/homeschool use) -> Different Not Less -> Diversity Matters -> All Minds Matter -> Embrace Neurodiversity -> Autism Acceptance -> Kindness Matters
Celebrate and raise awareness of differences during Disability Awareness Week with these fun and inclusive activities for the whole school!
disability awareness day, special education, hosting a disability awareness day event, spread awareness, acceptance
Celebrate neurodiversity during Autism Acceptance month (April), Developmental Neurodiversity Celebration Week, Disability Awareness month (March), and all year round with this set of coloring pages. Each coloring page has a key message, phrase, or saying with a matching image that is important to highlight around neurodiversity, autism acceptance, disability acceptance, and more.Student creativity: The activity allows for lots of student creativity and can fill up any amount of time you need. There is space for students to write, draw, cut and paste pictures from magazines or online.Differentiation options: This resource includes 3 leveled options for your students to complete the activity that start with a simple image to text, backgrounds, and more complex images to color in.Ideas for use: Morning meeting Arts and crafts activity Paired with a neurodiversity/autism acceptance/disability awareness lesson and activity Transition activity, warm-up, for early finishers 1:1, small group, independent work, whole class You can email us at [email protected] if you have any feedback, questions, and/or requests for resources. What's Inside? Resource Guide Resource Walkthrough Printing Guidelines Suggestions for Use and Differentiation Coloring Pages Full page 3 levels 17 pages for each level 51 total pages Preview Click here to preview the resource.
Celebrate and raise awareness of differences during Disability Awareness Week with these fun and inclusive activities for the whole school!
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Spread autism awareness with your bulletin board! Inspire understanding and inclusivity. Download our free Autism Acceptance Bulletin Board Display here.
Disability Awareness discussions will help promote better understanding and acceptance of peers with disabilities and promote inclusion. Students with disabilities often feel isolated and much of that is because their general education is not educated about disabilities and how to include and commu...
October is Disability Awareness month, but it's so much more than awareness... it's about acceptance and seeing people, our students, for who they are. FREE Disability Awareness bulletin board display. Only at Mrs. D's Corner.
Which disability organizations should you support and give your money to, volunteer at? Here's a handy list
8 suggestions for promoting awareness, acceptance and advocacy during Down Syndrome Awareness Month - and why it matters!
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that helps a person regulate their emotions, bring their stress levels down, and learn to accept difficult feelings and be able to manage them. These DBT coping skills handouts educate others about DBT therapy. Some of the things discussed on the handouts include skills that DBT teaches, tips for finding the “middle path,” and mindfulness strategies. The following 7 items are included in this bundle: DBT Cheat Sheet Handout DBT Skills Introduction Handout DBT Distress Tolerance Skills PDF Handout DBT Mindfulness Skills Handout DBT Emotion Regulation Skills PDF Handout DBT Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills Handout DBT Walking the Middle Path Skills PDF Handout *This item is an instant digital download. A link to download your files will be emailed to you once payment is confirmed. Want more resources like this? Check out our full catalog of DBT worksheets and handouts.
As I talked about in my last month, I like to use this month to celebrate my students, and teach others to accept them as they are. I think at this point everyone is aware of Autism, but are we teaching others to accept it? THANK OTHERS FOR THEIR KINDNESS. It may seem a […]
April 2nd is one of my favorite days to spread awareness about Autism. One of my favorite books to read is The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The
These A4 breathing tracing cards help regulate emotions by stimulating the parasympathetic system, they lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety and stress. Use your finger or pencil and trace over the line pictures - suitable for adults and children - ALL AGES. Resource supports help for emotional regulation, anxiety, ADHD, dyslexia, autism, autism awareness, autism spectrum disorder, autism meltdown understanding, autism therapy, psychology understanding, neurodivergent knowledge, autism acceptance, depression, trauma, disability, AuDHD, executive functioning skills and mental health awareness. Excellent resources for teach the teacher support, parent help, therapy, classrooms, schools, teens, individuals, parents, school psychologist, ABA, CBT, school counselor and self help. INSTANT DOWNLOAD READY TO PRINT Once downloaded, you can print at your own home or take it to your preferred print shop or have it printed online. **After your payment is confirmed, you can download your files directly from Etsy. To do so, go to: https://www.etsy.com/your/purchases to find your printable files.** -------- -------- NOTES * Colors may vary depending on your screen * No materials nor frame are included for this * THIS PRINT IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. COMMERCIAL USE IS NOT ALLOWED. COPYRIGHTS ARE RESERVED. * If you needed any additional change, please send me a message beforehand and we can create a custom listing for you with a small fee. ----- © ALL DESIGNS are property of TeaCH Publications. This design is copyrighted. INSTANT DOWNLOADINSTANT DOWNLOAD Once downloaded, you can print at your own home or take it to your preferred print shop or have it printed online. **After your payment is confirmed, you can download your files directly from Etsy. To do so, go to: https://www.etsy.com/your/purchases to find your printable files.** -------- NOTES * Colors may vary depending on your screen * No materials nor frame are included for this * THIS PRINT IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. COMMERCIAL USE IS NOT ALLOWED. COPYRIGHTS ARE RESERVED. * If you needed any additional change, please send me a message beforehand and we can create a custom listing for you with a small fee. ----- © ALL DESIGNS are property of TeaCHPublications. This design is copyrighted. INSTANT DOWNLOAD
For most people, oral care routines are straightforward. However, for those with physical disabilities, sensory differences, or other challenges, these routines can present significant obstacles. This post provides practical modification ideas for everyday oral care devices, helping everyone maintain optimal oral health.
33 Awesome Disability Awareness Activities and Games for Students of All Ages, special section for elementary or younger students.
October is Disability Awareness month, but it's so much more than awareness... it's about acceptance and seeing people, our students, for who they are. FREE Disability Awareness bulletin board display. Only at Mrs. D's Corner.
Phonics instruction helps people connect how words sound to how those sounds are represented by letters. Here are 15 phonics rules for reading and spelling.
This post contains affiliate links. **Update August 2020 - It is possible to utilize or create a path to fully support social distancing. Such spaces will be all the more important if other practices are limited or modified. For virtual learning, we might support families in creating appropriate paths or spaces at home.** You may have seen the video that went viral of a young boy walking, stretching, and hopping along a path that a special education teacher designed, painted, and implemented in the elementary school where she works. She labored over the path for more than 80 hours, creating something special for the students in her school. A sensory path is meant to help a child use their own bodies and environment to calm themselves down. They use their muscles, breathing, and spatial awareness to make their way through the path and walk away from it reset and refreshed. When teachers know certain students in their class would benefit from movement breaks, they can allow students to leave class (in our space the students would leave with a madrich or madrichah - Hebrew for classroom assistant) and move through the sensory break path. It’s a preventative measure, geared toward improving focus and preventing disruptive behavior before it occurs. In our space we already have students who need breaks throughout the session walking laps around our building. I designed this as a productive alternative. If you’ve seen the sensory path that went viral (image above), it is quite obviously a labor of love, but it is also rather busy. In my opinion there’s almost too much going on. It's always important to strike the right balance between a positive sensory experience and sensory overload. I also think that while wonderful for younger children, this path would seem too juvenile for older elementary and middle school students, who might dismiss it out-of-hand. So, like many others out there, I designed my own. Also a labor of love, I might add; it just took me much less than 80 hours to complete. Rather than paint I used colorful floor tape that can be removed. (Additional items include: large footprint decals, red floor marking tape, green floor marking tape, orange floor marking tape, hand-print decals, spiral wall decal.) I was aware of the limits of our space. Most importantly, our supplemental religious school serves children in PreK through grade 12, so I was wanted to create something that would be appropriate for the variety of ages. All students can use the path from time to time, to ground them on days when they’re feeling hyped up, anxious, or overstimulated in class. As expected, the space was an immediate hit. The most rousing endorsement came from two parents; one who is a physical therapist and the other who is both an early childhood educator and the mother of one of our students who typically walks laps around our building. My favorite moment was when a few third grade boys came to try it out. One, after whipping through it, declared that it was “too easy”. I tried to explain that it wasn’t a race, but he wasn’t listening. Nevertheless, word spread fast and few minutes later the rest of the third grade class wanted to try it out, so back he came along with his peers. Before his turn he again declared, “But it’s so easy.” This time I shared, “It’s not an obstacle course, it’s a sensory path. Do you know what sensory means?” “You mean like our senses?” he asked. “Yes. Some people need a short break from their work to clear their head. Others need to get their blood flowing again so they can get back to work.” “OK,” and off he went, back through the path. As he neared the end I asked, “So, is your blood flowing?” “Yeah, now it is.” The value of using spaces like this, fidgets, or any other tool meant to help a student find success is the context in which the tool is presented. Using the language of “this is a tool to help you” or “let’s take a sensory break,” enables students to more effectively speak about their needs and advocate for themselves in productive and meaningful ways. I think one of our third grade girls had the most important insight of the day: As she completed the path she declared, “Oh, these need to be EVERYWHERE. I’m telling my mom we need one in our house.” For more research on the benefits of sensory breaks read: The Impact of Sensory-Based Movement Activities on Students in General Education. Updated June 2019: ***NEW*** To keep this space interesting for our students I added new elements (and will aim to do so each year). I purchased the spiral sticker and hand-print stickers below. Here are pictures of how this new pieces look: Here are all the products I used to create this space: Contact me to design a sensory break space for your setting or for additional professional development in using such tools effectively. Never miss a post from Removing the Stumbling Block:
disability awareness, special education, disability awareness day, autism, downs syndrome
The Little White Owl is all about friendship and accepting the differences in people (owls, too!) We created a chart by describing what good friends do… Great Book Found Here The owls below are by some teacher friends of mine…cute, right? I love that they used scrapbook paper and newspaper to create the artwork. One...
With the ease and simplicity of a nursery rhyme, this lively story delivers an important message of social acceptance to young readers. Themes associated with child development and social harmony, such as friendship, acceptance, self-esteem, and diversity are promoted in simple and straightforward prose. Vivid illustrations of children's activities for all cultures, such as swimming in the ocean, hugging, catching butterflies, and eating birthday cake are also provided. This delightful picturebook offers a wonderful venue through which parents and teachers can discuss important social concepts with their children.
March is Developmental Disability Acceptance month! Thanks to the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) your PC's and Mac's have built in accessibility features (required by law). However, many people are not aware of these built in features that can be used in your classroom. Not only will they hel...
This product is perfect of upper elementary and middle school students. It is intended to raise students awareness and generate discussion about acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities. Includes: - 6 centers or mini lessons geared towards disability awareness. (5-10 minutes each) - introduction to person first language - discussion questions and links to resources.
Why I love this book and 42 activities for Wonder created specifically for students with autism and special learning needs.
The character trait I highlight at my school in December is COMPASSION, and I typically focus my classrooms lessons on showing compassion even when people are different from us. This year, I shifted my focus specifically to disabilities that can present differences among students or adults. I have done lessons on disabilities in the past, but it has been several years so I started searching for activity ideas to supplement what I already knew I wanted to include. I found two great PDF packets highlighting "Ability Awareness" activities. One is from the Indiana Governor's Council for People with Disabilities found here and the other was written by Bev Adcock and Michael L. Remus and can be found here. I presented the 45-50 minute lesson to all of my fourth grade classes and a couple of fifth grade classes. However, I think it would also be successful with third graders towards the end of the school year and would be fantastic for middle school students. My lessons were given during the students' lunch period plus 20 minutes, so I started out with a video clip as my "hook" after I introduced the idea of compassion with differences and disabilities. It was a great way to get the students' attention and also provided time for them to quickly eat before we started our "Ability Awareness" centers. The video can be found at imtyler.org and viewed below. Pretty great, right?!! Following the video I asked the discussion questions below to address awkward or uncomfortable feelings the students had, especially if they have never been around students with cerebral palsy or other significant physical disabilities. I had several students in each class giggle nervously when the real Tyler started talking, and I found it helpful to bring this up instead of ignoring it. - Was anyone surprised by this video? Why? - How did you feel when the real Tyler started talking? - How did you react when you had those feelings? - What could you do to show compassion towards Tyler or anyone with a disability? Is treating him like any other friend a way to show compassion? We then began centers organized around the room. Each center had two or three activity choices and students were able to complete as many as possible in the 4 to 5 minutes they spent at the center. They had to complete the activity listed on their Center Activity Sheet (picture below) before moving on to additional activities. Center #1 --- Visual Disability Students wrote their names in Braille on their summary sheets. Then, they were able to work with a partner and guess the names of objects in the pumpkin pail while being blindfolded. Center #2 --- Physical Disability Students had to put one hand behind their backs and pass out papers to their group members. They also had to attempt to tie their shoes using only one hand and answer a question on their center activity sheet about the experience. Center #3 --- Hearing Disability Students had several choices of activities at this center. They could practice sign language with their name or other short words. They also could practice lip reading with a partner using the questions provided. Finally, I had a PBS movie playing with no sound, and they had to figure out what it was talking about. Center #4 --- Language Differences Students surveyed different languages spoken in schools/neighborhoods at this center and discussed which ones they knew. They also were challenged to take a German test and asked to reflect how that felt on their summary sheet. Center #5 --- Learning Disability Students deciphered backward sentences and also took the Stroop Effect test at this center. This center was one of my favorites because the impact of having to read more slowly and increase concentration to process words on the Stroop test was a powerful illustration of what it might be like if you had a reading disability. Center #6 --- Disability Awareness in Pop Culture The final center was created to help students be more aware of accomplished people, both past and present, who dealt with disabilities and overcame them. Students had to match the person to the disability on the Smartboard. The computer monitor view is below. I used a variety of people such as Bethany Hamilton, Albert Einstein, Beethoven, Stevie Wonder, and Julia Roberts. A focus on Disability Awareness could be incorporated with many character traits including RESPECT, FAIRNESS, or COURAGE. Also, October seems to be Disability Awareness Month according to several websites...not that you have to wait until then!!! As Tyler said in his video- you are probably in a position to make a difference in someone's life by practicing (and teaching) Ability Awareness. Happy Counseling! ~ Angela Related Posts : Classroom Guidance, Compassion, January
If they haven't been already, preschool children will likely be around disabled adults and children at some point in their lives. Because of their young age, many preschoolers don't understand what it means to be disabled. Disability awareness activities can increase their knowledge of disabilities and teach ...
By purchasing from one of these businesses, not only are you helping put dinner on the table, but you are helping spread awareness, acceptance, and inclusion of individuals with disabilities.
disability awareness day, special education, hosting a disability awareness day event, spread awareness, acceptance
These Children's Books for Celebrating Differences offer sweet, simple stories about celebrating differences and how they make us special!
Promote Inclusion and Acceptance with these Fun Coloring Pages! Brighten up your classroom and teach the value of inclusion with this set of 10 engaging coloring pages that celebrates everyone! Each page features diverse children, including those with disabilities such as Down syndrome, wheelchair users, and children using walkers. These coloring pages are a perfect way to foster understanding, kindness, and acceptance among young learners. These pages are not only fun but also serve as a great conversation starter about the importance of treating everyone with respect and celebrating our differences. Perfect for social-emotional learning lessons, inclusion activities, or simply adding to your classroom’s diversity resources. What’s Included: 10 unique coloring pages featuring children with different abilities and disabilities. Simple, child-friendly designs that promote inclusion, kindness, and acceptance. How to Use: Use during social-emotional learning lessons to encourage discussions about inclusion and diversity. Incorporate into your classroom’s activities to create a welcoming environment for all students. Send home with students as a way to continue the conversation with families about acceptance and inclusion. These coloring pages are a wonderful addition to any classroom that values diversity and aims to create an inclusive space for all students. We hope you and your students enjoy them!
