Defiant Lives and the Meaning of the Disability Rights Movement Lesson

Defiant Lives and the Meaning of the Disability Rights Movement: Unit Plan Draft Google Doc

This lesson plan has been revised from the original version we hosted to provide content notes. We appreciate your feedback as to whether these notes are adequate or a different format would be more useful.

Subject and topic: 

History, Social Studies and Government

Grade level: 

10th-12th

Duration:

7 class periods (the timing can be adjusted)

Summary:

Students will watch “Defiant Lives: The Rise and Triumph of the Disability Rights Movement in the United States, England and Australia”. It covers important milestones in disability activism from breaking people out of nursing homes to advocating for equal rights. The discussion topics in the film vary from institutionalization to passing legislation. The film highlights in particular the vast differences between the medical model of disability and the social model of disability. For 5 days students will watch a segment of the film and record their own thoughts and then discuss their thoughts with a partner and the full group. The last two days students will work together to create their own plan to address an issue in their own community.