Having attempted to pass this along to my SO, who is in a wheelchair, for input, he has inquired as to how long a 'session' is. He's very active in student activities on his campus, and has access to rather scads of programs and activities for diversity and disability awareness, some of which might possibly be relevant.
Speaking for a more personal take on it, line c really hit me. I'm not entirely sure which way would be better for evoking the response/discussion you're looking for - it kind of depends, as someone else mentioned, whether they would be apt to get into a valuable discussion of _why_ they deem it "too hard" and what that means to different people, or it would be easier to go in through the positive door, and try to dissect why we put partners of disabled people on some sort of pedestal. I'm leaning towards the former, but I'm certainly not a teacher, and I don't know these kids or the rest of the curriculum. I can, however, state emphatically that I have gotten rather sick of that attitude in my own life. *wrygrin* I hear "oh, I just wouldn't be able to handle that" from some of my closest friends, and others have tried to 'help' me by encouraging me to break up with my SO, or declared me to be "an angel" when I indicated that I had no intention of doing so, thank you very much.
I personally would really like to see not only a story from the perspective of someone in a wheelchair, or with some other notable physical disability, but a more realistic view from the other side. Because it _isn't_ easy. And you do have to see the person, not the disability. But phrasing it that rather preachy way just glosses over the realities, both of it being a relationship like any other, with strong and weak points, and the very real challenges of pairing with a disabled person - the activity restrictions, the strange looks, the special health considerations or extra worries, etc.
ahem. Sorry. Got a tad wordy. :) At any rate, if there's something in particular you're looking for, or need to flesh out an activity or some other tidbit, the boy is quite willing to see what he can find, if he knows the parameters and time restrictions you're working with.
no subject
Speaking for a more personal take on it, line c really hit me. I'm not entirely sure which way would be better for evoking the response/discussion you're looking for - it kind of depends, as someone else mentioned, whether they would be apt to get into a valuable discussion of _why_ they deem it "too hard" and what that means to different people, or it would be easier to go in through the positive door, and try to dissect why we put partners of disabled people on some sort of pedestal. I'm leaning towards the former, but I'm certainly not a teacher, and I don't know these kids or the rest of the curriculum.
I can, however, state emphatically that I have gotten rather sick of that attitude in my own life. *wrygrin* I hear "oh, I just wouldn't be able to handle that" from some of my closest friends, and others have tried to 'help' me by encouraging me to break up with my SO, or declared me to be "an angel" when I indicated that I had no intention of doing so, thank you very much.
I personally would really like to see not only a story from the perspective of someone in a wheelchair, or with some other notable physical disability, but a more realistic view from the other side. Because it _isn't_ easy. And you do have to see the person, not the disability. But phrasing it that rather preachy way just glosses over the realities, both of it being a relationship like any other, with strong and weak points, and the very real challenges of pairing with a disabled person - the activity restrictions, the strange looks, the special health considerations or extra worries, etc.
ahem. Sorry. Got a tad wordy. :) At any rate, if there's something in particular you're looking for, or need to flesh out an activity or some other tidbit, the boy is quite willing to see what he can find, if he knows the parameters and time restrictions you're working with.