The Animated Hero Classics. Helen Keller

Every year, the anniversary of Helen Keller’s birth offers an excellent opportunity to remember one of the most inspiring figures in the history of education, inclusion, and disability rights. Born on 27 June 1880, Helen Keller became deafblind after a serious illness in early childhood. Thanks to the support of her teacher, Anne Sullivan, she learned to communicate, graduated from university, became a successful author, and devoted her life to advocating for the rights of people with disabilities, as well as for education, social justice, and equality.

To mark this occasion, the Helen Keller Activity Book published by the Deafblind Services Center (DSC) provides an engaging educational resource for children and teachers. Through reading activities, puzzles, word games, colouring pages, and comprehension exercises, students can discover Helen Keller's remarkable life while developing literacy skills in an enjoyable and meaningful way.

The booklet is particularly suitable for English language classrooms, as it combines authentic reading practice with vocabulary development and activities that encourage discussion about perseverance, inclusion, empathy, and equal opportunities. It can also be used in interdisciplinary projects linking English, History, Citizenship Education, and Inclusive Education.

Beyond learning about an extraordinary historical figure, this resource encourages students to reflect on the importance of overcoming barriers, respecting diversity, and recognising that everyone has the potential to contribute to society. Helen Keller's life remains a powerful reminder that determination, education, and opportunity can transform lives and inspire future generations.

https://www.dscl.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/helenkeller.pdf

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

The annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992, by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. 

The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

In this blog post I would like to present a resource from the Smithsonian in which, through the cases of some people with disabilities, their contributions throughout history are made visible.

The EveryBody: An Artifact History of Disability website is dedicated to raising awareness and sensitivity about disability through a look at the history of disability in the United States

https://everybody.si.edu/ 

California Practitioners’ Guide for Educating English Learners with Disabilities

The California Practitioners’ Guide for Educating English Learners with Disabilities was developed by the California Department of  Education (CDE), Special Education Division and the English Learner Support Division through a contract with WestEd, to provide information on identifying, assessing, supporting, and reclassifying English learners who may qualify for special education services and pupils with disabilities who may be classified as English learners.

This resource is structured to make valuable information readily available to busy educators. It contains lists of  key questions addressed in each chapter, sample forms, checklists, illustrative scenarios, tables, illustrations, frequently asked questions, links to additional resources, and other visual and organizational elements to improve the accessibility of  the text.

https://padlet.com/carelspecialists/ELD/wish/867873767

Guide for Educating ELS with Disabilities by Lupita Olguin-Rubio @el_swd