This comprehensive article on the state of teaching disability history features Library of Congress TPS grantees: Easterseals Massachusetts #TeachDisabilityHistory campaign, and Collaborative for Educational Services Emerging America Program - Reform to Equal Rights: K-12 Disability History Curriculum. The article also links to what is happening across the country.
What is happening in your state?
Demonstrators continued a four-day sit-in at the offices of the Health, Education and Welfare department in San Francisco, April 9, 1977, until civil rights rules for people with disabilities were signed by the president.
Important article - loved your input Rich Cairn
”A handful of states, including New Jersey, Nevada, California and Kansas have laws on the books about including disability history in their curriculum standards.
But Rich Cairn, the history, civics and social studies inclusion specialist at Emerging America, based in Northampton, notes those standards aren’t always enforced, and there’s a gap in awareness about the material and resources for teachers.
There has not been much formal research on how many teachers are already incorporating disability history into their classroom, according to Cairn.
Emerging America developed the disability history curriculum Reform to Equal Rights with funding from the Library of Congress. They spread the word about the free curriculum through webinars, conferences and professional development events.
“It feels like it's starting to show some signs of being a movement,” he said.”