Disability awareness : creating a better tomorrow

Marlina Massagli, California State University, Monterey Bay

Capstone Project (B.A.) Liberal Studies Department

Abstract

Many students in schools do not know that some of their peers in the classroom, or out in the community have or could have a disability. Understanding that their peers may have a disability is extremely important. Some disabilities are visible, however learning disabilities are naked to the eye. It is thus the teacher's responsibility to create a positive environment for all children, by creating a conscious awareness inside the classroom for all students. Through a series of interviews given to special education instructors and regular education teachers several trends emerged. The trend that was stressed most by educators was, the importance of creating an environment that children feel safe in, along with children with disabilities being accepted in school and the community. Action was taken to spread awareness, by having teachers speak out in classrooms about disabilities. Children can then learn how to understand and respect everyone's different learning differences. Regardless, people are people; disabilities are just challenges people face.