Literature often illustrates what a culture thinks about disability and the extent to which people with disabilities are included and respected by society. Mythology offers characters such as Hephaestus, who was lame and was cast out of Olympus for his disability, only to return triumphant as a valued member of the Greek pantheon.
Students should be encouraged to compare how disability is treated in different stories. A more contemporary example of disability in literature would be Carson McCullers' "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter." Students could consider questions such as, how are Hephaestus and John Singer treated alike? How are they treated differently? Is disability treated differently when it is not immediately visible?
When people think of athletes, people with disabilities rarely come to mind. However, athletes with disabilities participate in many sports, including track and field, basketball, and swimming. Students can read about the Special Olympics, watch clips from the games, and discuss how sports may be modified to include people with disabilities. Ask them why someone with a disability might still want to participate in a sport. If a wheelchair is available for students to use, have them sit in and push it, and then give them a verbal or written prompt: How hard would it be to play basketball in a wheelchair? Experiencing what it feels like will help students appreciate how hard these athletes work, just like athletes without disabilities.
In addition to reading about disability, students can invite a person with a disability talk to them about the experience. Encourage them to ask questions about a wide range of topics: for example, what a typical day is like, what the person does for fun, and what things he has to worry about that other people don't have to consider.