- Check out one or more of the resources on Social Justice or Learning Disabilities in the Resources tab. Comment here to share a response to the particular resource(s) and extend the discussion.
- And/or review our notes from Week Six and craft a response to something within the notes that sparks your interest.
- And/or take one or more of the guiding questions from our sixth meeting (see below) and write a comment in response.
- And/or add responses to other comments posted here.
- And/or share and comment on a resource not posted within our resources page. Please only share links and not PDFs.
All comments will post on the Home page and also within the Discussion tab.
Questions to consider:
LeDerick’s story
- After watching LeDerick perform, were you surprised to hear he has LD and struggled in school? If so, why was it surprising to you? Do you have any talented students who have LD? If so, how do you help them shine?
- Boxing helps LeDerick keep his depression in check. What helps you manage the stresses in your life?
- LeDerick talks about some of his strategies for managing his life- e.g. typing letters so he can spell check before handwriting thank-you notes. What are some of the strategies you use to work around your own challenges?
- LeDerick wishes he knew about his powerful voice earlier in life. What can you do to help your students find power in themselves?
- When he was in school, LeDerick was terrified of being publicly embarrassed by having to read aloud. What do you do to make sure your students don’t experience that worry?
- LeDerick attributes his depression more to the way society treated him because of his LD than to the LD itself. How can schools work against this stigma? What do you do to foster the development of self esteem in your students? What MORE can you do?
- LeDerick says, “I didn’t become successful in spite of having a learning disability; I think I’m a success because I have a learning disability.” How can you help your students recognize and harness the benefits of their learning differences?
- When he talks with the students, LeDerick models giving himself permission to make mistakes. What else can you do to encourage risk-taking within your classroom?
- What other questions or thoughts does LeDerick’s story raise for you?
Social Justice
After reading Toolkit p. 40-50, can you
• Describe the historical evolution of treatment of people with disabilities in our country
• Identify important markers of change regarding disabilities
• Explain the concept of ableism
• Describe the various models of disability, including the medical and social models
• Explain the concept of social justice as it relates to neurodiversity
