Overview of Lesson:
Dr. Whitney S. Hanley is an assistant professor of Special Education at the University of Kentucky. Within the scope of teacher education research, Dr. Hanley’s work follows three strands (1) exploring the qualitative ways radical care practices support Black girls impacted by deficit thinking (2) examining the implications of intersectionality, Black girlhood and play in special education and related services, and (3) reflexive and community integrated practice with regard to social justice and inclusive frameworks. Hanley has expertise in implementing social and emotional support systems for all students using inclusive pedagogy and 9 years of P-12 classroom teaching experience.
Author: Whitney Hanley
Student Work
Lesson Plan
Centering the Black Disabled Voices in Movements to Make Change
- In this lesson we emphasize the influence of Black disabled activists on the disability rights movement and ultimately the experience of students with disabilities. Intersectionality is the focus of discussion. Students will be provided with an introduction to the parallels of the history of inclusion and exclusion of Black Americans and people with disabilities. Specifically, we will engage students with images and video clips demonstrating what education and access was like for people with disabilities prior to Civil Rights Act legislation and why intersectionality was important in the movement for change.
Library of Congress Resources:
- Free yourself, free the panther image
- Final plans for march on Washington
- Black Activism Gallery
- https://disabilityhistory.org/
- Black panther convention
Instruction for Task(s):
- Engagement:
- Students will watch a video clip about Brad Lomax.
- Discussion:
- Students will discuss the parallels between the civil rights movement and the disability rights movement. Themes: inclusion and accessibility
- Model:
- Share specific examples and links to primary sources from the LOC and demonstrate how to use the archives.
- Question to explore: How has Black activism influenced change and accessibility for students with disabilities?
- Activity
- Divide students into small groups and give them resources to analyze one primary source using the LOC archives.
- Selected Digital Collections of primary sources:
- Discussion
- Reflect on the themes of inclusion and accessibility:
- How the civil rights movement and Black disabled activist influence the experience of individuals with disabilities?
- What can we learn about intersectionality and its impact on making change and meeting the needs of diverse learners?
- Reflect on the themes of inclusion and accessibility:
