LibGuides: Students Taking Action Today: Disability Rights

Formative Texts

Build students' background knowledge with formative texts. Get started with the resources below and provide students with note-taking materials to guide their research.

Overview of Disability Rights Movement

Learn about the modern history of disability rights in the U.S. and areas for current advocacy with American Association of People with Disabilities' overview.

A Summary of Disability Rights

People with disabilities have rights just like everyone else. Review this article on Disability Rights to find out more.

Disability Rights article from NewsELA

Share Jim's story with students to gain insight on one person's experience living with disabilities.

Key Terms and Outdated Language

Respectful Disability Language: Here's What's Up! Review key terms and how to avoid hurtful and outdated language while communicating about and with people with disabilities.

E-books

We Want to Go to School! by Maryann Cocca-Leffler (Illustrator); Janine Leffler A Junior Library Guild Selection February 2022 There was a time in the United States when millions of children with disabilities weren't allowed to go to public school. But in 1971, seven kids and their families wanted to do something about it. They knew that every child had a right to an equal education, so they went to court to fight for that right. The case Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia led to laws ensuring children with disabilities would receive a free, appropriate public education. Told in the voice of Janine Leffler, one of the millions of kids who went to school because of these laws, this book shares the true story of this landmark case.
ISBN: 9780807535189
Publication Date: 2021-09-15
Hello Goodbye Dog by Maria Gianferrari; Patrice Barton (Illustrator) For Zara's dog, Moose, nothing is more important than being with his favorite girl. So when Zara has to go to school,WHOOSH, Moose escapes and rushes to her side. Hello, Moose! Unfortunately, dogs aren't allowed at school and Moose has to go back home. Goodbye, Moose. But Moose can't be held back for long. Through a series of escalating escapes, this loyal dog always finds her way back to Zara, and with a little bit of training and one great idea, the two friends find a way to be together all day long.
ISBN: 1626721777
Publication Date: 2017-07-25
Emmanuel's Dream: the True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson; Sean Qualls (Illustrator) Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah's inspiring true story-which was turned into a film, Emmanuel's Gift, narrated by Oprah Winfrey-is nothing short of remarkable. Born in Ghana, West Africa, with one deformed leg, he was dismissed by most people-but not by his mother, who taught him to reach for his dreams. As a boy, Emmanuel hopped to school more than two miles each way, learned to play soccer, left home at age thirteen to provide for his family, and eventually, became a cyclist. He rode an astonishing four hundred miles across Ghana in 2001, spreading his powerful message- disability is not inability. Today, Emmanuel continues to work on behalf of the disabled. Thompson's lyrical prose and Qualls's bold collage illustrations offer a powerful celebration of triumphing over adversity.
ISBN: 044981744X
Publication Date: 2015-01-06
Not So Different by Shane Burcaw; Matt Carr (Illustrator) Not So Differentoffers a humorous, relatable, and refreshingly honest glimpse into Shane Burcaw's life. Shane tackles many of the mundane and quirky questions that he's often asked about living with a disability, and shows readers that he's just as approachable, friendly, and funny as anyone else. Shane Burcaw was born with a rare disease called spinal muscular atrophy, which hinders his muscles' growth. As a result, his body hasn't grown bigger and stronger as he's gotten older--it's gotten smaller and weaker instead. This hasn't stopped him from doing the things he enjoys (like eating pizza and playing sports and video games) with the people he loves, but it does mean that he routinely relies on his friends and family for help with everything from brushing his teeth to rolling over in bed. A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2017
ISBN: 1626727716
Publication Date: 2017-11-07
This Kid Can Fly: It's about Ability (NOT Disability) by Aaron Philip "At once beautiful and heartbreaking, Aaron Philip found a way to make me laugh even as I choked up, found a way to bring on my empathy without ever allowing me to feel sorry for him. An eye-opening debut." --Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award winner and Newbery Honor author of Brown Girl Dreaming In this heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting memoir, Aaron Philip, a fourteen-year-old boy with cerebral palsy, shows how he isn't defined so much by his disability as he is by his abilities. Written with award-winning author Tonya Bolden, This Kid Can Fly chronicles Aaron's extraordinary journey from happy baby in Antigua to confident teen artist in New York City. His honest, often funny stories of triumph--despite physical difficulties, poverty, and other challenges--are as inspiring as they are eye-opening. Includes photos and original illustrations from Aaron's personal collection.
ISBN: 0062403567
Publication Date: 2016-02-16
A Blind Guide to Stinkville by Beth Vrabel Before Stinkville, Alice didn't think albinism--or the blindness that goes with it--was a big deal. Sure, she uses a magnifier to read books. And a cane keeps her from bruising her hips on tables. Putting on sunscreen and always wearing a hat are just part of life. But life has always been like this for Alice. Until Stinkville. For the first time in her life, Alice feels different--like she's at a disadvantage. Back in her old neighborhood in Seattle, everyone knew Alice, and Alice knew her way around. In Stinkville, Alice finds herself floundering--she can't even get to the library on her own. But when her parents start looking into schools for the blind, Alice takes a stand. She's going to show them--and herself--that blindness is just a part of who she is, not all that she can be. To prove it, Alice enters the Stinkville Success Stories essay contest. No one, not even her new friend Kerica, believes she can scout out her new town's stories and write the essay by herself. The funny thing is, as Alice confronts her own blindness, everyone else seems to see her for the first time. This is a stirring small-town story that explores many different issues--albinism, blindness, depression, dyslexia, growing old, and more--with a light touch and lots of heart. Beth Vrabel's characters are complicated and messy, but they come together in a story about the strength of community and friendship. Sky Pony Press, with our Good Books, Racehorse and Arcade imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of books for young readers--picture books for small children, chapter books, books for middle grade readers, and novels for young adults. Our list includes bestsellers for children who love to play Minecraft; stories told with LEGO bricks; books that teach lessons about tolerance, patience, and the environment, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
ISBN: 1634501578
Publication Date: 2015-10-13

Virtual Field Trips

Each virtual field trip deck includes background information and vocabulary, a brief video (3-10 minutes), and a link to an additional resource. If students will be accessing the trip asynchronously, instruct them to select full screen for the best viewing experience. Then they can use the arrows to advance through the deck and press "play" to watch the video.

NYC Subway Accessibility

Types of Disabilities

Additional Partner Resources

Bolster students' research with additional media resources and opportunities to connect with experts and organizations.

NYC Wheelchair Accessible Travel Guide

Find out how wheelchair users can get around New York City with the Wheelchair Accessible Travel Guide.

Center for Disabled Individuals New York City (CIDNY)

CIDNY is a local organization that offers a voice to people with disabilities and advocates for policies to promote independent living.

Accessibility (or not!) in Schools

Read the article Majority Of School Districts Not Accessible For Students With Disabilities, view the video NYC Students with Disabilities Speaking About Accessible Schools, and discuss students' ideas for improving your school's accessibility.

Accessibility in Fashion

This video from PBS News Hour explains how fashion students and designers are creating accessible clothing.

Disability Rights Amplified

Rooted in Rights amplifies the perspectives of the disabled community using accessible digital media and shares resources for making your own digitally accessible campaigns.