Understanding Other Cultures

Teaching children to be sensitive to others that are “different” and operate differently than they do can present its own challenges when they don’t understand the why’s and what’s of disabilities. Too often disabled students are marginalized by others, ostracized, teased, bullied, and left out of important social opportunities both in and out of the classroom. Young children should be taught the sensitivities to others with disabilities so that they 1 – recognize them, 2 – understand them, and 3 – know how to communicate sensitively and appropriately with them. 

We might think we have no bias when in fact we may. This is called “unconscious bias” and it is crucial we become aware of and discard any before teaching our students the same. Psychologists at three major universities: Harvard, the University of Virginia and the University of Washington created "Project Implicit" - Implicit Association Tests, or IATs. This test measures unconscious bias. Give it a try here and prepare to discuss your findings in the forum that follows. You might be asked to register prior to taking it. This is the first important step in learning to identify and examine your own possible biases in order to break them down in others.