Curricular Units 

• D.E.A.R. Discussions

• Project Play

• AIM for an Inclusive Classroom

• Everyone has a Story

• STEMpathy

• Introduction to Disability Studies

Designed for students in grades PreK to 3, this series of lessons is based around a "Drop Everything and Read"(D.E.A.R.) format. It addresses emotional literacy and regulation, empathy skills, and celebrating disability as a form of human diversity. These simple lessons can be adapted for students in preschool through third grade.

This unit contains 10 lesson plans for 10 picture books by diverse authors featuring a broad array of characters.

• Section 1: Understanding Our Feelings

  • Book 1: Today I Feel Silly

  • Book 2: Listening to My Body

  Section 2: Developing Empathy

  • Book 3: Start with Sorry

  • Book 4: You, Me and Empathy

  Section 3: Developing an Ability Inclusive Mindset

  • Book 5: Normal Norman

  • Book 6: The Invisible Boy

  • Book 7: The New Kid Welcome / Welcome the New Kid

  • Book 8: Friends of All Kinds

  • Book 9: What Happened to You?

  • Book 10: A Kids Book About Disabilities

This program, designed for a setting structured around recreation and play, engages children ages 6 to 12 in learning about friendship, emotional regulation, empathy, and diversity. Project Play is a perfect fit for a camp setting or child care program, or a supplement to extracurricular activities.

This unit contains 10 lesson plans featuring fun activities that will help teach skills and build community:

• Lesson 1: Similarities vs. Differences

• Lesson 2: Identifying Emotions

• Lesson 3: Body Indicators

• Lesson 4: Empathy

• Lesson 5: Empathy in Action

• Lesson 6: Diversity

• Lesson 7: Risk Taking

• Lesson 8: Communication

• Lesson 9: Inclusion

• Lesson 10: Putting it All Together

Designed for students in grades 3 to 5, this unit provides essential instruction in empathy and friendship skills. Students explore how to manage their own emotions, how to demonstrate empathy toward others, and how to be a good friend to everyone.

This unit contains 9 lessons:

• Lesson 1: Identifying, Labeling, and Managing Emotions

• Lesson 2: Productive Problem Solving

• Lesson 3: Becoming a Feelings Detective

• Lesson 4: Defining Empathy

• Lesson 5: Demonstrating Empathy

• Lesson 6: What Does It Mean To Be A Good Friend?

• Lesson 7: We Feel Invisible When We’re Left Out

• Lesson 8: Developing an Ability Inclusive Mindset

• Lesson 9: Small Adjustments Make A Big Difference

Co-written with author and professional storyteller Kevin Kling, this unit offers students a chance to explore their identity through storytelling. While most students only experience storytelling instruction in formal reading and writing lessons, this unit invites students to play with storytelling through different mediums and activities and introduces them to the work of a diverse group of storytellers. This unit for students in grades 3 to 5 can easily be adapted for middle-school students.

This unit includes 10 lessons:

• Lesson 1: What is Storytelling

• Lesson 2: The Power of Storytelling

• Lesson 3: Our Stories are Our Identity

• Lesson 4: Your Story Collection

• Lesson 5: Adding to Your Collection

• Lesson 6: Pick Your Story

• Lesson 7: Develop Your Story

• Lesson 8: Continue to Develop Your Story

• Lesson 9: Share Your Story

• Lesson 10: Host a Story Slam (optional)

The STEMpathy program is designed to empower students in grades 6 to 12 to optimize belonging for all. Using the Engineering Design Process and applying what they learn about disability studies and ableism, students work together in an inclusive club or classroom setting and take on a project that will make their school more inclusive from a physical, social or cultural standpoint.

STEMpathy is divided into four phases:

• Phase 1: Orientation to the Work

• Phase 2: Identifying Problems and Generating Solutions

• Phase 3: Executing the Plan

• Phase 4: Sharing and Reflecting

Introduction to Disability Studies takes a deep dive into disability awareness education, disability history, and disability justice. Students in grades 6 to 12 will learn about disability as a form of human diversity, how to be an aspiring ally, and how to be an includer.

Units can be paced according to teacher needs, with multiple lessons in a week for a shorter time frame, or stretched out over a longer period.

This unit includes 9 lessons:

• Lesson 1: Disability is Diversity

• Lesson 2: Understanding Disability

• Lesson 3: An Introduction to Ableism

• Lesson 4: Imagining a Truly Equitable Society

• Lesson 5: Disability History

• Lesson 6: Digging into the Disability Rights Movement

• Lesson 7: Where Are We Now?

• Lesson 8: Shifting Mindsets

• Lesson 9: Taking Informed Action