Educating People With Disabilities

List of Contents (click on topic name for more links)

Famous People With Disabilities
Ali, Muhammad--Although he has Parkinson's Disease, he remains in the center ring fighting the good fight.
Brimer, Gaby--Even though Gaby was born with a severe case of Cerebral Palsy, she composed a few published novels with her left foot.
Brown, Christy--Christy was another well-known author with Cerebral Palsy. He painted and typed with his left foot.
Callahan, John--He is a quadriplegic cartoonist.
Campbell Jr., Arthur--Arthur, with Cerebral Palsy, strongly advocated for his rights.
Dart, Justin--Justin, who had Polio, was a leader of the international disability rights movement and a renowned human rights activist.
Ellison, Brooke--Although Brooke became severely physically disabled from an automobile accident, she is currently earning a PhD from Stony Brook University.
Fox, Michael J.--Michael, with Parkinson's Disease, is raising funds and public awareness.
Golfus, Billy--He is an award-winning journalist in spite of becoming brain injured due to a motor scooter accident ten years ago.
Hawkings, Stephen--A very popular scientist, Dr. Hawkings has ALS and uses a voice synthesizer to give lectures.
Hockenberry, John--John, a paraplegic news reporter, makes the public aware that the disabled are people too.
Holden, Henry--A comedian with Polio, Henry Holden informs the public, "Attitudes are the real disability."
Jewell, Geri--A comedian with Cerebral Palsy, Geri tells the world, "Folks, did you know that disabled people have the ability to laugh and to make others laugh?"
Keller, Helen--Helen, deaf and blind, strongly advocated for disabled rights as well as women's rights.
Keplinger, Dan--Dan, with Cerebral Palsy, paints with his headpointer.
Mairs, Nancy--Nancy, Multiple Sclerosis, charms the world by writing articles and novels.
Maynard, Kyle--In spite of having Congenital Amputation, Kyle demonstrates his zest for life through wrestling.
Neal, Patricia--Although Patricia became physically disabled after having numerous massive strokes, she made a full recovery and returned to her acting career thanks to having a very unusual husband.
Nolan, Christopher--Christopher published a novel entitled Under The Eye Of The Clock, has a severe case of Cerebral Palsy and types with his headpointer.
Other people--refuse to let their handicaps interfere with their success.
Porter, Bill--Bill, with mild Cerebral Palsy, is a door-to-door salesman.
President Roosevelt, Franklin D.--He, too, had Polio.
Pryor, Richard--Richard, a comedian with Multiple Sclerosis, lit up the sky with his dynamic personality.
Reeve, Christopher--Christopher became severely physically handicapped from a horse riding accident and inspired other disabled people to keep reaching for the stars.
Roberts, Ed--Ed, who had Polio and lived at home with his mother, was an advocate for people with disabilities.
Smith, Greg--Greg, with Muscular Dystrophy, is currently running The Strength Coach.
Stepanek, Mattie--Mattie, with a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy, plays his Heart Songs.
Tada, Joni--Even though Joni became physically disabled from a diving accident, she continued LIVING by getting married, writing a few novels, and promoting her religious beliefs.
Even though Walker, Bradley has Muscular Dystrophy, he became a country bluegrass singer.
Back to top

Moving Into The Mainstream
Accessibility Options--This site explains how to utilize the Sticky Keys and Mouse Keys.
Accessible Society--The national Center for An Accessible Society is a project of Exploding Myths, Inc. a media enterprise company. Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research from October 1999 through May 2004, The Center for an Accessible Society's goal is to focus public attention on disability and independent living issues by disseminating information developed through NIDRR-funded research to promote independent living.
Bridges 4 Kids--The goal of bridges4kids is to provide as much timely, useful information as possible to both parents and professionals regarding children with special needs, disabilities, and those who are at-risk.
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund--Founded in 1979 by people with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities, the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Inc. (DREDF) is a national law and policy center dedicated to protecting and advancing the civil rights of people with disabilities through legislation, litigation, advocacy, technical assistance, and education and training of attorneys, advocates, persons with disabilities, and parents of children with disabilities.

Filefolderheaven--free, printable file folder games as well as interactive books that are appropriate for Special Education teachers, Early Childhood Teachers, as well as Speech Therapists.

Freedom Machines--Freedom Machines makes a compelling case for why public policy and programs must support millions of Americans with disabilities in gaining access to the technology that can provide freedom from poverty and institutionalization.
Kids on the Block--The Kids on the Block provides educational puppet programs which enlighten children on the issues of disability awareness, medical-educational differences, and social concerns. At the National Office of the Kids on the Block they research and develop relevant and timely program topics for delivery by over 1000 troupes around the world. Kids on the Block has a strong commitment to provide communities with programs that address children's questions, concerns and needs in a lively and entertaining manner. Kids on the Block educational curricula help to create positive attitudinal and behavioral change for present and future generations.
Inclusion--This web site is designed for general education teachers, special education teachers, parents, and school staff to help provide some answers about how inclusive education can be accomplished. Resources for making accommodations are included as well as links to other web sites and resource lists for learning more about inclusive education.
Mainstreaming Act--How did the Mainstreaming Act develop? Congress was able to pass Public Law 94-142 in 1975. This law meant that disabled children had to attend regular classes for either part of or all of the school day. Placing disabled students in the least restrictive classroom environments with non-disabled students was the true meaning of mainstreaming.
Mouse Keys--are primarily intended for people which have difficulties to move a real mouse. Hence this feature is part of the Accessability set-up in the Control Panel.
New Horizons For Learning--Musician Danny Deardorff, who spends his days in a wheel chair, wrote a song called "Everyone is Differently Abled." Indeed we all have different ways of learning, but some of us are more challenged than others. In this area of our website we offer a comprehensive resource for parents and teachers of those who are challenged physically, emotionally, or cognitively.
NJEA--New Jersey Education Association
NOD--The mission of the National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.) is to expand the participation and contribution of America’s 54 million men, women and children with disabilities in all aspects of life. By raising disability awareness through programs and information, together we can work toward closing the participation gaps.
Office of Special Education Programs--OSEP is dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities (ages birth through 21) by providing leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) authorizes formula grants to states, and discretionary grants to institutions of higher education and other non-profit organizations to support research, demonstrations, technical assistance and dissemination, technology and personnel development and parent-training and information centers.
StickyKeys--is an accessibility feature designed for people who have difficulty holding down two or more keys at a time. When a shortcut requires a key combination such as CTRL+P, StickyKeys will enable you to press one key at a time instead of pressing them simultaneously. This procedure tells you how to turn on StickyKeys through Accessibility Options in Control Panel.
SoothSayer Word Prediction--is a software program that can help you type faster and more accurately. It works in conjunction with other programs such as off-the-shelf word processors, web browsers, databases, spread sheets, etc.
Special Ed--Information about special education and disabilities.
Back to top

Research
Essay: Professional Goals
Essay: Seeking a Post-Secondary Education
Essay: Superior Student
Essay: YES, I DO EXIST
Master's Thesis: ATTITUDES OF NON-DISABLED EMPLOYERS REGARDING PHYSICALLY DISABLED EMPLOYEES
National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research--The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)'s research strategy strives to be integrative and holistic by focusing on the whole person functioning within a diverse environmental, cultural, and social context. Major areas of research focused upon by NIDRR projects include: employment outcomes; health and function; technology for access and function; independent living and community integration; and associated disability research areas such as disability statistics, disability studies, disability policy development, and rehabilitation science/outcome measures. Other groups of NIDRR projects are addressing knowledge dissemination and utilization, capacity building for rehabilitation research, and new strategies for research management.
National Rehabilitation Information Center--the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC) is committed to providing direct, personal, and high-quality information services to anyone interested in disability and rehabilitation issues. We are committed to serving consumers, researchers, family members, health professionals, educators, counselors, students, librarians, and administrators throughout the country.
Paper: Accessibility Issues in Educational Computing
Paper: Instructional Technology for the Disabled: Accessibility Options of Which We All Should Be Aware
Paper: Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test Revised
Paper: Physically Disabled Second Graders’ Writing Skills
Paper: Viewing the Physically Disabled World
Summary of Senior Thesis: Depressive Affect Among Physically Disabled Men and Women
Back to top