6) Ability and Autonomy / Re-conceptualizing ability

 
Candoco
Classroom Activities:
  • Discuss the King article with the whole class. One of King’s most salient points concerns the equation of physical ability and autonomy. Discuss the student’s reactions to this idea:
    • Do they agree or not?
    • What examples can they find in their lives that either prove or disprove that equation?
  • Work on the following movement to see if that physical activity changes their ideas at all.
  • Divide students into pairs or small groups
  • Set up a variety of movement experiences in which there is a physical limitation:
  • Blindfolded activities:
    • walking while blindfolded
    • talking while blindfolded
    • retrieving an object while blindfolded
    • performing a task while blindfolded, such as finding and turning on or off a light switch or picking up a book from the floor.
    • restricting movement to one leg, one arm, etc.
    • if available, assign activities to be done from a wheel chair
  • Time permitting, it might be interesting to have “showings” and discussions of these activities, so that a pair or small group can be observed by the rest of the group.
Assignment:

Read the essay “Carnal Acts” by Nancy Mairs.