People with Disabilities Participate in Disability Studies Class
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Throughout the month, we celebrate and feature stories from the people we support. We believe that with the right set of supports, people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) can live in, work in, contribute to, and participate in the community.
Over the fall semester, several participants at S:US’ 5th Avenue Day Habilitation Program in Brooklyn were invited to join Dr. Allan Goldstein’s weekly Disability Studies class at New York University. There were five participants from S:US’ day habilitation program – Danny, Valerie, Tiffany, Wandalys, and Kenny along with two Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), Andrea and Denaya, who attended the class. During the weekly 3 ½ hour long class, the group from S:US plus two other groups of adults with disabilities supported by area organizations, added their perspective and insights about what it is like to live with a disability and navigate life in New York City.
Each week, through readings, viewings and discussion group exercises, the class expanded their awareness about what it is like to live with different abilities and the adaptations made to facilitate living in an urban, modern world. The curriculum included readings of books such as “No Pity: People with Disabilities Forging a New Civil Rights Movement” by Joseph P. Shapiro, articles and texts, viewing of news clips and documentaries, along with a site visit to a local organization which supports people who are blind. Role playing was also used in which participants acted out skits that highlighted roles in the real world and challenges one may face while living with a disability. The emphasis of learning using academic and experiential lenses was intrinsic to the course.
Tiffany and Kenny interact with NYU students.
On a weekly basis, the participants from S:US’ group were enthusiastic to attend the class and interact with the students and the professor. One participant, Valerie, shared: “I am grateful that I was able to participate and share my insight and perspective with the group. I liked the book ‘No Pity’ and we read a chapter about a man in a wheelchair. It was sad but true. We helped the students learn about the capabilities of people who live with disabilities. As I told them, ‘We are all equal!’” Another participant, Danny, remarked: “…It was awesome and great…the learning and teaching experience. We shared with students what it’s like to live with a disability. It was also fun, and I made new friends. I learned new things like people with disabilities go to summer camp and reading the material for class.” Both Valerie and Danny, along with their peers, were excited to attend the weekly class, meet new people and help the students learn from them.
Denaya, one of the DSPs from S:US expressed: “Everyone was able to relate to the stories shared in the course and from the readings. Our group shared their opinions with the students and professor. We felt very included, and they fostered a meaningful, wholesome and patient environment for learning. I hope that we will return to do it again.” Andrea, the other DSP from S:US, commented: “The participants were so interested in going to class weekly, so happy to be there and interact with the students and the professor. They were fascinated with the professor and feeling immersed in an innovative learning environment. They really wanted to hear from us about what it is like to live with a disability. Participants from S:US answered questions and asked questions. The role-playing skit highlighted areas that are difficult for people with a disability to handle in the community and brought awareness towards the need to increase modifications to expand inclusivity. The site visit was also fascinating because it showed us that people who live with a disability and are also blind could live a robust life with technological adaptations to be more independent.”
People supported by S:US along with our DSPs learned an enormous amount from participating in this course and look forward to doing it again.
Dr. Goldstein’s class highlights the impact that learning can have on many layers in society and how inclusion can be fostered with small and big changes. Both the mix of his American and international students plan to enter the workforce, hire people with disabilities, and be innovative in the modifications that they make for them to increase inclusivity and supportive employment across the globe. Participation in his Disability Studies class brought so much meaning, gratitude, purpose, and excitement for the group of people with disabilities and staff. It expanded the experiential learning among the group including the students from NYU and it highlighted accessible ways we can adapt and evolve to become more inclusive for people of all different kinds of abilities. Fortunately, this learning will continue as a fourth group from S:US will join Dr. Goldstein’s Spring semester course, and as the NYU students bring their newfound knowledge about disabilities into the wider world with their future employment opportunities. We at S:US are grateful to Dr. Allan Goldstein, NYU Professor, and Jajaida Gonzalez, S:US’ Vice President of Day Habilitation Services, for inviting us to participate in this Disability Studies course.