Education+through+Stories

We often talk about the importance of educating students, about people with disabilities, as a way to break down stereotypes and negative attitudes. Cook, Duggal and Gibo (2008) support this concept claiming that educating youth is one way we can shift negative perceptions of disability, towards acceptance and respect. The difficulty, I believe, arises in finding an effective way to provide this vital education. Personally, I am adamant about the idea that stories have a way of educating children like no other. I believe that when written and illustrated well, stories possess the ability to inspire and reach learners in unique and varied ways. Cooper, Collins and Saxby (1994) have a similar view about the power of stories claiming that stories empower students, helping them to communicate feelings and construct meaning which they claim is vital for effective learning to take place. So my resource as such is a book, suitable for children aged eight to twelve. Elder and Thomas’ book //Different Like Me: My Book of Autism Heroes// (2005) brings together a number of short narratives which detail the lives of famous, inspirational people who have lived with autism. This resource could be used in a couple of ways within a classroom setting. One way would be to select one of the stories to read as a class, and then to have a discussion which aims to educate students about appreciating that every person brings something unique to the class. It is worth noting that the book only uses the word “autistic” in the introduction where a fictional character named Quinn talks about his experiences living with autism thus, it can be left up to the teacher to decide whether they read that excerpt to the class. The stories, involving famous people, focus on people who found it difficult to fit in but went on to excel in all different areas of life. Another way this book could be used is to read to/give it to a child with a disability, who is perhaps feeling as though they do not fit. In this case, I would draw the student’s attention to the introduction where eight year old Quinn talks about life with autism in a positive light.
 * Different Like Me: My Book of Autism Heroes **

Expected outcomes from using this book with students would vary depending on how it was used. If read as a class and then discussed, it would be expected that students would be more aware of differences amongst people; understand just how much people can achieve despite any difficulties they may face; and students may have a greater understanding of what it is like to live with a disability, and in turn, be more welcoming and supportive of people who have disabilities. If given to a specific student with a disability to read, it may result in increased confidence in that they understand it is okay to be different and in fact a good thing to be unique, they may better understand what life with a can disability mean, in that they can still achieve the goals they set for themself, and they may view their life in a more positive way generally.

Regardless of how the book is used, the stories provide children with opportunities to reconsider how they view people who they feel are “different”. Moreover, they provide students who may feel as though they do not fit in, with a form of comfort in knowing that they are not alone, making this book a useful resource for teachers. **References: **
 * Cook, S., Duggal, G., & Gibo, M. (2008). //DISABILITY 101: Increasing Disability Awareness and Sensitivity.// Retrieved online from: []
 * Cooper, P., Collins, R., & Saxby, M. (1994). //The Power of Story.// Melbourne, Australia: Macmillan Education.
 * Elder, J., & Thomas, M. (2005). //Different Like Me: My Book of Autism Heroes.// London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Melissa Yap (u3041657)

This 26 piece felt play set is a great tactile resource for anyone working with families and children. The figures in this set include a diverse range of the community including: diverse cultural backgrounds, people who are vision impaired and wheelchair-bound, babies and grandparents, even cats and dogs.

Well known stories can be told with props. These anti bias resources can be used in Earlychildhood to retell stories, replacing characters with these new ones. Not only does this resource enable children to listen and participate in stories, it introduces children to diverstiy.

"As I learn to like the differences in me, I learn to like the differences in you." Bill MArtin Jnr. (Derman - Sparks. L. and Ramsay. P.)

These resources are paricularly useful in education and care services where the children appear predominantly mono- cultural and abilities appear to be on similar levels, talking about their families and identities and discussing differences within their families and each other can be extended on by utilising resources that represent diversity.

Derman-Sparks. L. and Ramsey. P. (2006) What if all the Kids are White? Anti- Bias Multicultural Education with Young Children and Families. Teacher College Press Columbia University. USA. __www.innovativeresources.org__