The BBC presenter Nikki Fox has been named the most influential disabled person in the UK by the Shaw Trust – a charity that helps disabled people develop their careers.
Yes, disabilities are sad but do we really have to keep going on about them? Surely, as long as we make sure that they get the support they need, they should be treated the same as anyone else?
Or is it right to celebrate their achievements louder and longer, because of the additional determination and resilience it takes for them to make an impact?
This resources pack includes an article from The Week Junior about The Disability Power 100, plus an activities sheet to get children thinking, talking and writing about what the story means to them.
Activities include:
- As long as we make sure people with disabilities get the support they need to help with their special circumstances, should they be treated the same as anyone else? Isn’t that what they would prefer? Or is it right to celebrate their achievements louder and longer? After all, it takes even more determination and resilience for them to make an impact than it does for normally abled people, so don’t they deserve more admiration? What do you think?
- Imagine you are a wheelchair user – or, if you are a wheelchair user, imagine you are living with a different disability, such as visual impairment. Write a diary of a typical school day, giving an idea of the challenges you face and how you deal with them.
- Is there anyone you know who manages to live a positive life despite suffering from a significant disability? If not, imagine one. Either way, write a pretend letter to the Shaw Trust explaining why you think they deserve an award.
- Research and write a fact file about a particular condition such as muscular dystrophy, diabetes, autism or ADHD. Explain how it affects the ability of those who have it to lead a ‘normal’ life and provide an outline of any treatments that they need to undergo.
Find the entire series of Topical Tuesday resources to download here.
What is The Week Junior?
The Week Junior magazine looks at current affairs and helps children make sense of the world, provides context and clarity to complex issues, improves general knowledge and encourages discussion and debate.
To find out more about The Week Junior and to download its free resources, please go to schools.theweekjunior.co.uk.