Anyone have any good ideas for an interesting way to present our project on special education?

special education issues : We are doing a presentation for special education and are having a difficult time coming up with some ways to make it interesting instead of just throwing a bunch of information at people. This is for a college level course. Please Help!!

The answer about: Anyone have any good ideas for an interesting way to present our project on special education?

Answer by paigepsych
Have you seen the FAT CITY video? They present info. to the audience AND do activities so they understand what it feels like to have a disability.

Answer by JazzyGee
Definitely do simulation activities! I have provided staff development in the past in the early days of SpEd and these activities did more than any other information I gave the groups.

Examples -

to simulate a vision disability and concurrent motor issues: smear Vaseline over swimming goggles and have the volunteer wear these along with swim fins. Direct him or her to walk from point A to point B (make sure there are some obstacles) to obtain a specific book title from a library shelf.

Another volunteer is asked to remain in a wheelchair: use a piece of plastic pipe on one arm to simulate a physical disability. Instruct the person to turn the chair around (very difficult with one hand) and flip the light switch off.

A speech difficulty can be simulated with a mouthful of M’s and a small sip of water. The person will not be able to articulate an intelligible answer to a question and he or she will “drool” as well .

I would also suggest you use a Powerpoint presentation with lots of photos to illlustrate your point.

Good Luck!

Answer by Michael H
JazzyGee has it totally wrong. Placing someone in a wheelchair and telling them to stay there or smearing Vaseline on someone’s goggles is degrading to the disabled. My suggestion is to have an interview with someone that has a disability themselves.

The following links can provide an example of what some of the interview questions could be asked:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Athrmv.1cnd436AEcBlykzfty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20090310132048AA8yP51&show=7#profile-info-CDM8yvmCaa
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmNx1la_oij2.FzD87kGhEzty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20090310132224AAmF7K0&show=7#profile-info-CDM8yvmCaa
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjEVPrLOdeOIqZQWuHJkSbbty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20090311131351AAMmjQq&show=7#profile-info-CDM8yvmCaa
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArrGoudR0UfIr8mbUcKLNo_ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20090313232519AAJwRqk&show=7#profile-info-Ds7K0NPOaa

You can also do a show a presentation about disabled advocacy. The following link might give you some clues on how to start your presentation:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AtLQdWBEAHYRwzLwwXZ6Grrty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20090313131506AAXTUrZ&show=7#profile-info-mUlh0lOkaa

Good luck!

EDIT: BTW, JazzyGee I have a sppech impairment and I find your suggestion of placing a mouthful of M&M’s in a person mouth to simulate a speech impairment highly insulting. Also for your information, not everyone with a speech impairment drool; however, I take it that you do.

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