Kathy Berggren
A 2013 Engaged Faculty Fellow, Kathy Berggren was a senior lecturer in the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
The Story
Kathy created, implemented, and assessed a short curriculum that addresses the richness and opportunities of the differently abled for Ithaca City Schools (grades 6-8). The Illuminating Differently Abled Awareness (IDAA) project began in December 2012 with the initial application to the Faculty Fellows Program. The objective of the initial proposal was to teach students in the Ithaca School District about the richness and opportunities of the differently abled through the creation, implementation, and assessment of a short curriculum of three modules across three class periods.
“The goal of this project was for teachers, administration, and students to display awareness, respect, curiosity, and empathy around issues and individuals of different ability.”
The Strategy
- Took on three undergraduate students to help with the development and implementation of the curriculum
- Developed curriculum around diversity, disability awareness, and disability advocacy
- Sparked conversations about disability and inclusion among students with their peers, teachers and parents
- Launched a pilot of the lesson plans in four eighth grade classes over two weeks at the end of the semester
- Created a website where the curriculum has been made available online for public access in order to have a further reach and is intended as a tool for educators, leaders and facilitators in school systems, camps, scout troops, or any groups dealing with children and young adults.
In The News
Student input drives business communication course (January 22, 2014, Cornell Chronicle)
Outreach program teaches disabilities awareness (December 4, 2013, Cornell Chronicle)