Untitled Document

Yes I Can Syllabus

A social inclusion program for students with and without disabilities

Teacher: Joel Stehle (Email jstehle@hartdistrict.org)

Instructional Assistant: Marcia Davis (Email: mdavis@hartdistrict.org )

Webpage : staff.hartdistrict.org/jstehle

Overview:

The Yes I Can program is designed to enhance social opportunities of young adults with disabilities. This program teaches interested students with and without disabilities to effectively work together to ensure that youth with disabilities are included in recreational and social activities of their choice within the communities in which they live.

Participating students take part in meetings coordinated by local school staff that provide them with a chance to:

Get to know one another
Acquire a basic knowledge about disabilities
Learn a variety of strategies that can used to overcome barriers to inclusion

These skills are put to use through community-based recreation and leisure experiences planned and implemented by students.

Purpose: The Foundation for Exceptional Children established the Yes I Can! program in 1981 to acknowledge the achievements of children and youth with disabilities; to overcome barriers caused by disabilities or public misconceptions; to encourage children and youth with disabilities to seek their highest potential; and to increase public awareness of the abilities, aspirations, and personal qualities of people with disabilities.

Objective:

The purpose of this class is to identify common myths and mis-conceptions about persons with disabilities, and to explore how those misunderstandings can affect attitudes and hinder the establishment of social relationships.

Objective:

Students will work on building social relationships and modeling positive social skills.

Lesson Types

Journal and Speed Socializing.: Students will be given a topic to write on for 10 minutes. Students will then Pair up and spend 3 minutes sharing their responses or reading their articles with another student. After three minutes everyone will switch to another person, until they have talked with everyone in the class.
Breaking the ice activities. Students will learn a variety of breaking the Ice activities used in public and private gathering to help people introduce themselves and get to know others.
Playing games that build social interaction and team work. Students will play games such a pictionary in order to develop social skills in a group setting.
Personality type : This activity is designed to help students learn about there particular personality types and how to relate to people different from them.
Video discussions: See list of approved video . These videos will be used to help facilitate classroom instruction for people with disabilities and appropriate social behavior.
Reading Handouts: Inspirational stories may be read in class to inspire students to be successful.
20 suggested lessons: http://ici.umn.edu/yesican/curriculum/default.html

Lesson 1: Orientation
Lesson 2: Introductions
Lesson 3: “A New Way of Thinking”
Lesson 4: How We’re Alike
Lesson 5: Myths and Misconceptions
Lesson 6: Quality-of-Life Issues
Lesson 7: Understanding Friendships
Lesson 8: Developing Communication Skills
Lesson 9: Characteristics and Needs of Persons with Autism and Mental Retardation
Lesson 10: Characteristics and Needs of Persons with Physical and Other Disabilities
Lesson 11: Enhancing Sensitivity
Lesson 12: Everyone’s a Winner
Lesson 13: Being a Team Member
Lesson 14: Legal and Human Rights
Lesson 15: Being an Advocate
Lesson 16: Self-Determination and Self-Advocacy
Lesson 17: Person-Centered Social Inclusion Planning
Lesson 18: Making a Difference
Lesson 19: Yes I Can Review
Lesson 20: Planning the Yes I Can Celebration

Grades:

Once every week students will meet with their partner to plan a social activity that will take place in the community or school, and then carry out the activity. (20%)

Students will participate in all class activity and model appropriate social behavior. (20%)

Students will model a positive attitude in all class activities. (20%)

Students will interact positively with each other, and with the school staff. Students will participate in all field trips and school activities such as pep rallies. (20%)

Students will model good behavior by following all classroom rules and procedures. (20%)

NOTE: Failure to follow these guideline could result in a low or failing grade.

Movies/Documentaries:

The following is a list of movies and documentaries that are suggested to serve as additional tools for discussion and interaction by Yes I Can student participants. The movies could be shown in their entirety or could be broken down into shorter segments. Example: The scene in "The Other Sister" between the mother (Diane Keaton) and the daughter (Juliet Lewis) in which she is demanding to move out, include the clip (3:50) in discussion section of lesson plan 15, "Being an Advocate".

1. The Other Sister- 1999, Rated (PG), Romantic comedy, Juliet Lewis stars as 24 -year old Carla Tate who has a developmental disability. After years of special schooling at a private boarding school, Carla stands up to her mother by getting her own apartment and falling in love. Lessons that could enhance understanding of central themes in Yes I Can Curriculum- Lesson 3, "A New Way of Thinking", Lesson 5 Myths and Misconceptions, Lesson 6, Quality of Life, Lesson 7, Understanding Friendships, Lesson 11, Enhancing Sensitivity, Lesson 14, Legal and Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Lesson 15, Being an Advocate, Lesson 16, Self Determination.

2 My Left Foot - 1989, (PG-13), True story, Daniel Day Lewis plays the part of a man who has spastic quadriplegic, Christy Brown who can only control movements in his left foot. He learns through determination and the help of a teacher to overcome the chains of his disability and becomes a successful painter and poet. Related lessons: Lesson 3, A New Way of Thinking, Lesson 4, How Were Alike, Lesson 5, Myths and Misconceptions, Lesson 10, Characteristics and Needs of Persons with Physical and Other Disabilities.

3. Mr. Holland's Opus- 1995, (PG-13) Richard Dreyfuss, a high school music teacher dream of becoming a composer. He has a deaf son whose relationship with his father is turbulent to say the least. Related lessons: Lesson 4, How We're Alike, Lesson 8, Communicating with Others, Lesson 11, Enhancing Sensitivity, Lesson 12, Everyone's a Winner.

4. What's Eating Gilbert Grape-1993, (PG-13 ); Drama/comedy- Johnny Deep plays Gilbert Grape, a young man who works in a small grocery store. Gilbert's brother Arnie (Leonardo DiCapaprio) has a developmental disability and spends a great deal of time with Gilbert and his friends. The movie provides a view of the community and how the community views Arnie. Related Lessons: Lesson 5, Myths and Misconceptions, Lesson 6, Quality of Life Issues, Lesson 7, Understanding Friendships, Lesson 9 Characteristics and Needs of Persons With Autism and Mental Retardation, Lesson 11, Enhancing Sensitivity, Lesson 14, Legal and Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Lesson 17, Person Centered Planning for Social Inclusion, Lesson 18, Making a Difference

5. Simon Birch-1998, (G), Drama- Simon an 11 year old boy who is small of stature believes he is a giant in character and will surely be a hero. Simon sets out on a journey with his best friend to find his best friends dad and themselves. Based loosely on a book by John Irving called "A Prayer for Owen Meany" Related Lesson: Lesson 4, How We're Alike, Lesson 5, Myths and Misconceptions, Lesson 6, Quality of Life Issues, Lesson 7, Understanding Friendships, Lesson 10, Characteristics and Needs of Persons with Physical and Other Disabilities, Lesson 14, Legal and Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Lesson 15, Being an Advocate, Lesson 16, Self Determination.

6. The Mighty-1998, (PG-13), This movie is based on a great book; Freak the Mighty, by Rodman Philbrick. Eldren Ratliff plays Max a young man with cognitive disabilities who has failed the eighth grade twice. His life changes when Kevin (Kieran Culkin) a brilliant kid who has Morquio's Syndrome is assigned to work with him. Related Lessons: Lesson 4, How We're Alike, Lesson 5, Myths and Misconceptions, Lesson 7, Understanding Friendships, Lesson 9, Characteristics and Needs of Persons with Autism and Mental Retardation, Lesson 10, Characteristics and Needs of Persons with Physical and Other Disabilities.

7. Rain Man-1988, (PG-13), Dustin Hoffman plays a man who has Autism Spectrum Disorder and has savant talents, is at first exploited by his brother (Tom Cruise) who later gains insight into his brother and his disability. Related Lessons: Lesson 9, Characteristics and Needs of Persons with Autism and Mental Retardation, Lesson 14, Legal and Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

8. Real Rain Man, A Portrait of an Autistic Savant-1993, (G), A documentary about one of the men Dustin Huffman portrays in Rainman, Joe is seen as a composite character of the multi-faceted character in Rainman. Learn about his life. Related Lessons: Lesson 9, Characteristics and Needs of Persons with Autism and Mental Retardation.

9. Benny & Joon -1993, (PG), Comedy Benny (Aiden Quinn) and Joon (Mary Stuart-Masterson) are brother and sister who long for a normal life. Joon has a cognitive disability and is tired from caring for her brother. Their lives change when Sam (Johnny Deep) arrives and brings a blend of whimsy and eccentricities in. Related lessons: Lesson 4, How we're Alike. Lesson 5, Myths and Misconceptions, Lesson 6, Quality of Life Issues,

10. When Billy Broke his Head and other Tales of Wonder-1995 (PG-13) A documentary about the life of Billy Globus a man whose life changes after an accident and a closed head injury. Related lessons: Lesson 5, Myths and Misconceptions, Lesson 10, Characteristics and Needs of Persons with Physical and Other Disabilities, Lesson 15, Being an Advocate, Lesson 16, Self Determination.

11. Mask-1985 (PG-13) Drama about a young adult with facial skull deformity and his biker mother’s attempt to live as normal as possible. The young man has the same hopes and dreams as does his non-disabled peers. Lesson 3, How We're Alike, Lesson 5, Myths and Misconceptions, Lesson 7, Understanding Friendships, Lesson 10, Characteristics and Needs of Persons with Physical and Other Disabilities.

12. Being There-1979 (Rated PG) Comedy/Drama Chance the Gardner played by Peter Sellers has worked as a gardener for the same man his whole life and has never left the estate where he works until his employer dies. His exchange with the outside world takes on great significance when his simple statements about gardening are interpreted to mean far greater meaning than initially intended. Lesson 4, How we're Alike, Lesson 5, Myths and Misconceptions, Lesson 7, Understanding Friendships, Lesson 8 Communicating wit Others.

13. Elephant Man-1980, (Rated PG) Drama, A Victorian Doctor played by Anthony Hopkins comes across a man catastrophically deformed with Proteous Syndrome. The man dubbed the "elephant man" is in actuality a very tender, charming and intelligent man. Lesson 3, A New Way of Thinking, Lesson 4, How we're Alike, Lesson 5, Myths and Misconceptions, Lesson 10, Characteristics and Needs of Persons with Physical and Other Disabilities, Lesson 11, Enhancing Sensitivity

14. Children of a Lesser God-1987, (Rated R) Drama, A young teacher (William Hurt) befriends a young woman (Marle Matlin) at a school for the deaf. The movie chronicles the hardships that this young woman has experienced and lends a look at the deaf community. Lesson 7, Understanding Friendships, Legal and Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Lesson 15, Being an Advocate, Lesson 16, Self Determination.

15. Lasting Leadership-1997 (Rated G) Chris Burke hosts a look at popular education and self -advocacy the video is accompanied by a facilitator’s guide. This video can be purchased by contacting Advocating Change Together, ( St. Paul, MN) (800) 641-0059 or go to their website directly at www.selfadvocacy.com. The cost of the video is $89.00; ACT also has other videos available I caution you that some of the videos contain adult language and adult content.

16. All Ways Welcome- 1993 (Rated G) Ontario Ministry of Tourism video on people with disabilities and there right for interaction with others and the right for choice of opportunity to participate in activities of their choosing. A very good introductory video. I have requested the last five copies in stock from Canada. I will send you a copy on loan, if you could return it when you are done viewing it.

Rudy

The Sandlot

Molly’s Pilgrim

Hoosiers

The Bad New Bears

Breakfast Club

Remember the Titans

Please note these movies are only suggestions that the list is from suggestion given by other YES I CAN teachers and programs. This is only a list of films that could be watched in part or in whole as a means to use in discussions related to Disability Studies, The importance of Attitude, Organization, and appropriate and inappropriate social interactions.