Types of Disabilities & Accommodations

Where to begin? It’s difficult to develop compact learning modules since entire college courses are devoted to just one aspect. There are many types of disabilities, congenital, acquired, sensory, physical, learning, mental, etc. You can do exhaustive research on disabilities, but a more interesting approach is to learn firsthand about a few famous people:

Down Syndrome
Spinal Cord Injuries
Multiple Sclerosis
Learning disabilities
Vision difficulties


Given our society’s fascination with celebrities, we thought that you may be interested in how some famous people have been able to accommodate to their disabilities:

• David Beckham and Howie Mandel (Tourette’s syndrome/Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
• Arthur C. Clarke and Neil Young (Poliomyelitis)
• Julia Roberts, Samuel L. Jackson, and Sir Isaac Newton (Speech differences)
• Jack Kerouac (Schizophrenia)
• Abraham Lincoln, Billy Joel, Ben Stiller, Ludwig Von Beethoven (Mood disorders)

People with disabilities are just differently-abled. The modules will raise your awareness about the varying abilities and possibilities through the use of assistive technology.

Discovery Exercises:

1. Go to the National Federation of the Blind’s suggestions on how a student would learn science, technology, engineering, or math without vision; how you can teach your sighted class about Braille; and how you can show others how normal, easy, and fun Braille is. After reviewing the activities presented to you, in your own words, how would you approach the introduction of learning Braille in your classroom should you have a blind child in your class. Comment in your blog.
2. Explore the Job Accommodation Network to make the learning process better for a student with a disability. The National Center for Learning Disabilities website has a special link for teachers who need to support students of all abilities. Were you able to find any information that would improve your teaching abilities for improving assistance to LD students? Comment in your own words, in your blog.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtUvqhsQIRO