Students in Controversial Issues had the opportunity to study the evolution of the disability rights movement through the eyes of disability activists and the organizations that lobbied for key civil rights legislation for people with disabilities.
Students worked in groups to research and present on the history of one major disability rights organization.
The students used the following research questions as a guide in developing their group presentation:
- What was the mission or main objective of this organization?
- What were the rights of people with disabilities that this organization was working to secure?
- What rights were being denied to people with disabilities at the time the organization was founded?
- Who were some of the major leaders of the disability rights movement associated with this organization?
- What were the strategies taken by disability rights activists associated with this organization to ensure key disability rights laws were passed?
- What was some of the language/terminology/key civil rights issues on disability reflected in the legislative acts this organization worked to have passed?
- Name the major services the organization provides to people with disabilities today.
Presentations included written descriptions and primary documents, such as photographs, quotations, oral histories, letters, art, and so forth.
Students followed-up their presentations with a class discussion on:
- In what ways do we see the advancements and results of the disability rights movement being lived out today?
- Are there issues of inequitable treatment or lack of accessibility for people with disabilities in our school? In our community? Provide specific examples.
- How can people who are not disabled be allies to people with disabilities in gaining greater rights to access and equity?
Slides from Austin and TJ’s presentation:
Self-advocacy is a key component of the OLS program. Courses such as Controversial Issues assist students in understanding that the workplace is affected by changing social attitudes, beliefs, laws, and market trends. Employees who are prepared to enter the workforce should be able to identify employment resources, information on employment rights and laws, issues of discrimination, occupational safety, and unique issues facing the Disability Community. The Controversial Issues class strives to develop informed workers who understand the laws and regulations intended to protect them, as well as the means to take action when needed. Throughout the quarter, students critically examine, identify, and discuss controversial issues in the workplace through websites, video, text, laws, and current news stories.
Controversial Issues in the Workplace is one of the many courses OLS Bellevue College students take to obtain their associate degree from OLS. More information about our curriculum is available on our website. To learn more about our program register for an upcoming Information Session.
[ssba-buttons]Last Updated November 19, 2020