Activity #1 Writing PETEY Poetry
Objective: Using vocabulary, new ideas and terms for people with disabilities.
Project: Writing simple letter poetry. Using any appropriate word i.e.; INDEPENDENCE or PETEY.
Example:
I I love to be independent.
N Nevertheless, I sometimes have to ask for help.
D During my life as a handicapped girl, independence has become very important to me.
E Even the smallest act of independence is precious to me.
and so on...
Activity #2 A Chat with PETEY
Objective: Writing dialogue. Using politically correct terms and forms of address.
Project: Students are asked to write twenty lines of dialogue. "Chatting" is a form of writing that students are familiar with and is an attention-getting method. Students are allowed to use "chat" form, spelling and popular words and phrases.
Activity #3 "It's Harder than You Think"
Objective: Voicing opinions in writing about handicapped accessibility problems in public buildings.
Project: Place students in a manual wheelchair. Have them face the problems of wheeling up and down a ramp, opening doors, and trying to get into a bathroom. After students have their 'wheelchair' experience, they are assigned their final project.
Ideas for this writing might include:
After reading PETEY, have you had an altered attitude about people with disabilities?
Present ideas about the usage of politically correct terms in writing and oral address.
Make suggestions about how to improve buildings to make them more accessible.