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Inclusive
4-H
Expanding
Inclusive Opportunities for Youth and Volunteers
What
a disability is … and isn't
A
disability is …
… A limitation of a person's ability to perform
certain life skills.
A disability is not …
… something you can catch.
A disability is …
… a condition that may require adapting an activity
to the person's ability.
A disability is not …
… a reason to expect a person to be helpless.
A disability is …
… a reason to have clear, concise rules for behavior.
A disability is not …
… An excuse for accepting repeated inappropriate
behavior.
A disability is …
… an opportunity to value individuals for their
abilities.
A disability is not …
… an opportunity to pity a person and avoid social
contact. |
Today we find
a far richer mixture of family backgrounds, ethnic heritages, and
physical and mental abilities in our 4-H membership than ever before.
This mixture sometimes presents challenges for volunteer leaders
and members alike as they learn to function successfully in this
larger picture. But what a terrific opportunity we have to blend
our talents into positive outcomes.
No one has yet
come up with a sure-fire recipe for success in inclusive programming.
However, there are some key ingredients in the base of every good
mix:
- Positive
attitude
- Begins with the volunteer leader and spreads contagiously to
the members.
- Clear
and consistent expectations - What is okay today will be okay
tomorrow, and doing what is not okay will have defined consequences.
- Everybody
counts - Each individual is a valued member of the group and
care is taken to recognize and meet each individual's needs.
- Adaptation
is acceptable - "That's the way we've always done it"
is out. "Let's see how we can do this to make it work"
is in.
Once these key
ingredients are in place, the programming possibilities are unlimited.
In order to offer 4-H experiences and opportunities to everyone
and anyone who wants to be involved, we need to do our best to get
rid of any obstacles that might keep 4-H from including everyone.
The
Best Advice for Inclusion — Treat Every Child Equally
Ron Morley,
4-H volunteer leader in Clare County and assistant superintendent
for special education for the Clare Gladwin Regional Educational
Service District, offers these quick tips for volunteers who have
opportunities to include young people with disabilities in their
4-H club:
- When you
plan a meeting make sure it is in a space or location that is
accessible to everyone.
- Use your
teens. Encourage teen leader pairing so that a child with a disability
has someone to work with.
- All projects
should involve everyone. The beauty of the project is in the eye
of the beholder - the important thing is that everyone gets to
complete the project.
- One thing
a volunteer or club can do is contact the special education department
of the local school district. They can be great resources - they
have people trained to work with children with special needs.
- Ask parents
about the specific disabilities and needs of a child and offer
to accommodate and pay attention to the child's needs.
- Encourage
team showmanship. This allows a team to bring their individual
strengths to the team's success. It also reduces the emphasis
on any team member's individual abilities or disabilities.
Consider
Physical Environments When Programming
When working
to make 4-H activities accessible, consider the physical environment.
Whether you're looking for a meeting site that will accommodate
a wheelchair user or planning inclusive activities for your 4-H
club or group, keep the following tips in mind:
- Check the
accessibility of the building entrances and exits, hallways, rooms,
lighting, drinking fountains, safety procedures and other factors.
- Doorways
and walkways should be 32 inches to 36 inches wide.
- Ramp slopes
should not be greater than 1:12.
- When working
around a table, leave a space without a chair to accommodate a
person who uses a wheelchair.
- Keep all
walkways free of clutter.
- Place all
supplies and educational materials within reach and convenient
to where 4-H'ers will use them. This way, you and the young people
don't have to carry things from place to place.
Everyone
Shares the Opportunity to Serve
|
"We
have to improve life not just for those who have the most
skills and those who know how to manipulate the system. But
also for those who often have so much to give but never get
the opportunity."
- Dorothy I. Height |
4-H groups that
engage in community
service give their members a chance to learn what it's like
to help someone else by using their individual abilities. Abilities
are found in persons with and without disabilities. Involve 4-H'ers
who have disabilities as active participants in your community service
projects. Through participating in community service efforts, all
4-H'ers can develop the very qualities that will prepare them to
become good citizens and leaders.
Learning
Materials
More information on learning
materials available to support these activities can be found in the Michigan
Guide to 4-H or through the MSU
Bulletin Office.
The following
articles and resources can support your efforts to adapt 4-H learning
experiences for including people with disabilities:
Online
Resources
Information
on inclusion and disabilities is available from other resources
on the Internet. A sampling of sites follows. You may also wish
to search the Internet using keywords or search terms such as "disability,"
"inclusion," "adapted activity" or "inclusive
recreation." Names of specific disabilities (such as cerebral
palsy, autism, attention deficit disorder and learning disability)
may also yield valuable information:
- 4-H
Proud Equestrians Program (4-H PEP)
With the help of trained and caring volunteers, kids can discover
their abilities instead of their disabilities through the 4-H
Proud Equestrians Program (formerly the 4-H Horseback Riding for
Handicappers Program.)
- 4-H
Health Programs
Information on how to link decision-making skill building and
current health issues to teach young people about the importance
of maintaining physical, social, mental, intellectual and environmental
health and well-being.
- The Center for Universal Design
The Center for Universal Design is a national research, information,
and technical assistance center that evaluates, develops, and
promotes universal design in housing, public and commercial facilities,
and related products. This national center is based at the North
Carolina State University School of Design in Raleigh, North Carolina.
- Circle
of Inclusion
The Circle of Inclusion Web site is for early childhood service
providers and families of young children. The site offers demonstrations
of and information about the effective practices of inclusive
educational programs for children from birth through age 8.
- Disability Etiquette Handbook
This handbook is produced by the Planning Department and the Disability
Advisory Committee of San Antonio, Texas. It is designed to enhance
opportunities for persons with disabilities to pursue their careers
and independent lifestyles. Viewing parts of the site requires
Adobe Acrobat Reader software, which you can download for free
from a link on the site.
- National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
The United States Department of Education’s Office of Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), through its National
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), conducts
comprehensive and coordinated programs of research and related
activities to maximize the full inclusion, social integration,
employment, and independent living of disabled individuals of
all ages.
Training
& Events
For upcoming training and
events in this area, check the 4-H
Volunteer Workshops web site, the MSU
Extension Calendar and the 4-H
Exploration Days web site.
Michigan 4-H
Youth Development offers two annual workshops on inclusive programming.
These workshops allow volunteers and others who work with children
with disabilities, including the 4-H PEP volunteers, to learn about
and experience a variety of resources to support inclusive programming.
- 4-H Inclusive
Programming Workshop
- Recreation
for All - The Art of Inclusion
Contact
Information
For more information on
how to get involved as a youth
or volunteer,
contact your county MSU Extension
office or:
Karen Waite,
4-H Youth Equine Specialist
4-H Proud Equestrians Program Coordinator
Michigan State University
1287J Anthony Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824-1111
USA
Phone: 517-353-1748
Email: kwaite@msu.edu
Copyright
© 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Michigan State University
Last Updated: October 30, 2007
Last Reviewed: December 3, 2003
|
Guide
to Michigan 4-H
