Post #9

Hehir, Toward Ending Ableism in Education 

Quotes 

After reading the article Toward Ending Ableism in Education by Thomas Hehir, he talks about ableism especially in classrooms and how it's important for students with disabilities to be with all students and not just ones with disabilities. "From an ableist perspective, the devaluation of disability results in societal attitudes that uncritically assert that it is better for a child to walk than roll, speak than sign, read print than read Braille, spell independently than use a spell-check, and hang out with non disabled kids as opposed to other disabled kids, etc. In short, in the eyes of many educators and society, it is preferable for disabled students to do things in the same manner as non disabled kids." This quote shows that ableist think the only right way to do things is if it is a "norm". However, kids that are disabled shouldn't be forced to do things and learn a certain way, it should be however they feel most comfortable and ways that is going to benefit them. "I contend that negative cultural assumptions about disability continue to have a negative influence on the education of children with disabilities. The pervasiveness of ableist assumptions in the education of these children not only reinforces prevailing prejudices against disability but may very well contribute to low levels of educational attainment and employment." If people keep spreading around that kids that are disabled are going to have low levels of education and employment than that is what's going to happen, instead of thinking the other way around so that everyone is spending enough time with them and giving them opportunities so that they can succeed. In the "Toward Ending Ableism in Education" section I really liked this sentence, "Encourage disabled students to develop and use skills and modes of expression that are most effective and efficient for them." It is important that these students are learning and navigating ways that are going to benefit them and for teachers to help these students and give them a little more attention if needed to make sure they are doing well. 

A point I would want to bring up to the class is the Toward Ending Ableism in Education section and bring up all the key points, for example, Include disability as part of schools’ overall diversity efforts, Encourage disabled students to develop and use skills and modes of expression that are most effective and efficient for them, Special education should be specialized, and more. 

Hyperlink: https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/disabilities/