The Holidays are rapidly approaching, bringing with them a host of festivities, and gatherings. For children with social disabilities and sensitivities to sensory stimuli, this time of year can cause increased anxiety and frustration. The noted “To be Jolly” Season can often be difficult for children with special needs as well as their families. One or more of the following suggestions my help everyone enjoy the Season and each other:
Inclusion in the Context of Disability Awareness Month – by David A. Kuriniec
It’s that time of year again—the time of year when, by wearing a pin or ribbon, or by engaging in “what it’s like to be disabled” simulations, schools and businesses seek to promote disability awareness month. But the big question remains unanswered: of what exactly are we becoming more aware? It cannot merely be that different types and varying degrees of severity of disability exist. The month of October, then, is really framed in the wrong context. Activities should be geared more toward propagation of the fact that disability is a natural part of life, and that a culture that promotes and actively implements an inclusive philosophy is ideal.
