Fourteen federal categories define the term “disabilities” in the United States: autism, deaf-blindness, deafness, developmental delay, emotional disturbance, hearing impairment, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairments, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, and visual impairment including blindness.
Published in Chapter:
Teachers' Decision-Making Process: Inclusive Children's Literature
Britt Tatman Ferguson (National University, USA), Suzanne Evans (National University, USA), and Nilsa J. Thorsos (National University, USA)
Copyright: © 2019
|Pages: 22
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-7582-5.ch005
Abstract
This chapter examines teachers' decision-making processes of selecting and implementing inclusive literature, especially in relation to children with disabilities, in their teaching practices. Inclusive literature celebrates diversity helping the individual see himself as well as others. Inclusive literature educates everybody about everyone, and books can help reduce prejudice. Diversity in literature impacts how children view disability and allows them to understand society. Realistic portrayals of a character with a disability can have positive impact on attitudes of students without disabilities towards peers with disabilities. The chapter will address effective strategies for selecting relevant and appropriate stories and books. In addition, the chapter will address effective strategies for using inclusive literature.