Children with Disabilities

Created by LifeWind International

CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

Children’s Lesson

Date:2/08 / (1 HOUR)
OBJECTIVES: / Children will learn about different types of disabilities.
Children will learn how to work and play together with people with disabilities.

OVERVIEW FOR TRAINERS:This lesson is one of series of lessons on working with children with disabilities which are part of the health lessons for children. This lesson could also be modified for use with adults. The material is adapted from the Child-to-Child Activity Sheets, available from TALC, and from DisabledVillage Children.

METHOD

TIME

KNOWLEDGE

Role Play/ Game: /
In this role play, one child pretends to have a disability. For example, tie a stick to his leg. Then he can play tag with the other children.
The other children can react to him in different ways. Some are friendly and include him in their game. Others ignore him or make fun of him.
You can repeat the role play with another child pretending to have another disability—being blind, for example (with a blindfold)

----SHOWD questions----

S = What do you See?
H = What is Happening?
O = Does this happen in Our place?
W = Why does this happen?
D = What will we Do about it?
I. / Disabilities
Discuss in large group / I. / Disabilities
A. / As you played the game, what was it like to be the person with the disability? (the splint, blindfold, etc.) / A. / What was it like?
I felt left out.
It was hard to play.
The other children were friendly.
The other children ignored me.
The other children made fun of me.
B. / Do you know anyone who cannot run or talk or see or hear like other children? Those are examples of disabilities. / B / Disabilities
C. / What are different kinds of disabilities? / C. / Kinds of disabilities
There are many kinds of disabilities.
Some are minor and don’t make much of a difference.
Others are very severe and prevent many activities.
Some children are blind or do not see clearly.
Other children are deaf or do not hear well.
Some children have difficulty walking.
Others have weak arms and hands.
Other children have difficulty learning things.
Some children have seizures (fits) or other medical problems.
II. / Causes and information about disabilities
See the handout, Disabilities: Right or Wrong?
Read the list of statements about disabilities. Ask the children to stand up for each statement that is right, and to sit down for each one that is wrong. They should be ready to explain their answers.The purpose here Is not just to learn facts about disabilities, but to trigger discussion among the children. / II. / Causes of disabilities
III. / What is it like to have a disability? Use a variety of “pretend disabilities” to check this out. / III. / What is it like to have a disability?
A. / What is it like to not be able to use your legs? To learn what this is like, try tying the legs together of one child in the group.

How would she work around the home?
Go to school?
Buy groceries?
Go to the bathroom?

/
B. / Some children with cerebral palsy have trouble with their balance. To imitate this, have the children try to walk on a moving surface like a hanging board.

What was that like?
Describe your experience.

/
C. / What is it like to have arthritis or painful joints? Have the children put small stones in their shoes. Then try to run and play games.

How did your “arthritis” make this difficult?

/ C.
D. / Some children have trouble using their hand or their fingers. Divide the children into pairs. One child will wrap strips of cloth around the fingers or the other child until he can’t move his fingers well. Then try to do common tasks:

Write
Eat
Turn the pages of a book
Button your shirt
Drink a cup of water

/
E. / See the lesson “What Is It Like To Not See Well or Hear Well?”to check out hearing and vision disabilities.
F. / When you finish these “pretend disabilities”, discuss the experiences with the children.
IV. / Children with disabilities / IV. / Children with disabilities
A. / What things can children with disabilities do well? / A. / Abilities
Many people with disabilities have strong abilities in other areas.
Some people who can’t move their hands learn to draw with their feet or their mouth.
A blind person may listen well and have a keen sense of hearing.
There are Olympic Games for people with disabilities.
One president of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt, had polio He used leg braces or a wheelchair.
Beethoven, a famous singer, became deaf but kept on composing.
Another famous singer, Stevie Wonder, is blind.
Many children with physical disabilities can swim well.
Other examples:
B. / What are some guidelines for working and playing with children with disabilities? What should you do? / B. / Working and playing with children with disabilities
Treat them like you treat other children.
Let them try. Give them a chance.
Let them take risks, just like other children. Do not overprotect them.
Concentrate on what they can do, not on their limitations.
Include them. Invite them to join your activity or your play.
Give them work and responsibilities.
Help them to be as independent as possible. Do not do everything for them.
Give help when it is needed.

References:

Bailey, D., H. Hawes and G. Bonati (editors). 2007. Child-to-Child: A Resource Book. The Child-to-Child Trust. Available from TALC,

Werner, D. 1987, 1999. DisabledVillage Children. Berkeley, CA: The Hesperian Foundation. Available from

ATTITUDE: / Children will be more comfortable working and playing with children with disabilities.
SKILL: / Participants will know different types of disabilities and some of their causes.
EVALUATION: / Facilitators will know the children have learned the content of this lesson when they include children with disabilities in their activities.

MATERIALS:

/ -Stick, cloths (to make a splint); blindfold
-Board, ropes
-Strips of cloth
-Disabilities—Right or Wronghandout

This lesson is used in: Lessons to Teach Children—Physical--Disabilities

DISABILITIES—RIGHT OR WRONG?

Stand up for each statement that is right and sit down for each one that is wrong.

Be ready to explain your response.

STATEMENT / RIGHT OR WRONG / EXPLANATION
Everyone has a “disability” of some kind. / RIGHT / Everyone does some things well, but struggles to do other things.
Disabilities are caused by black magic or witchcraft. / WRONG
If you have a disability, it is your mother’s fault. She did something wrong. / WRONG / Disabilities may be caused by problems during the pregnancy, but that is not the mother’s fault.
If you have a disability, then God is punishing you for something you have done wrong. / WRONG / See John 9:1-3.
God loves children with disabilities. He knows them and cares for them. / RIGHT / Read Psalm 139:13-16.
Sometimes a disability is caused by a problem during the birth of the child. / RIGHT
Sometimes a disability may be caused by a disease like polio. / RIGHT
Many disabilities are caused by accidents. / RIGHT / Some accidents that can cause disabilities are: falls, car accidents, burns, or eye injuries.
Disabilities just happen. They can’t be prevented. / WRONG / Some disabilities, like polio, can be prevented by getting immunizations (“shots”). Many accidents that cause disabilities can be prevented.
Bad nutrition (not eating the right foods over a long time period). can cause blindness. / RIGHT / Many children are blind or have other health problems because they have bad nutrition.
STATEMENT / RIGHT OR WRONG / EXPLANATION
Children who can’t talk are dumb or stupid. / WRONG / Deaf children who don’t hear well may not be able to speak clearly. But they can communicate in other ways.
If someone has a fit (or seizure), put a spoon in his mouth. Watch out or they may die. / WRONG / Make sure they cannot bang against anything. Don’t put anything in their mouth. The seizure will end soon.
Children with disabilities can’t go to school. They should just stay at home. / WRONG / Children with disabilities should go to school. They want to learn knew things.
They won’t be able to get a job. They will just have to beg. / WRONG / Many teachers, lawyers, politicians, leaders, and artists and writers have disabilities. There are many athletes with disabilities.
Children with disabilities have other talents or abilities. / RIGHT / Give some examples.
Children with disabilities want to laugh and have friends. / RIGHT
People with disabilities can’t get married and have children. / WRONG / Many people with disabilities have families and are good parents.
Children with disabilities are just like other children, except for their disability. / RIGHT