Joanmarie's Blog

  The text provides guidance for teachers and staff in relation to transgender and gender-nonconforming students. This document begins by providing definitions for teachers and staff to refer to, as well as a list of federal and Rhode Island laws and policies regarding this topic. This document then explains information on topics ranging from pronouns to bathroom allocation. Regarding topics such as bathrooms and sports participation, schools are to allow students to choose based on the gender they identify with. The same applies to the dress code. It also provides information for teachers about how to handle a situation where a student is undergoing gender transformation. For elementary school students, it suggests working with parents and the school to support the student. For secondary students, it says contacting the parent is not always the best call due to possibly endangering the student. In terms of revealing information about a student's gender identity, teachers and ...

  “Include Ableism as part of schools’ overall diversity efforts” I noticed that when we talk about inclusivity, disabilities are either not included or at the back end of the conversation. I remember one of our classmates (I believe it was Tessa) said that for students who had larger disabilities they had support, but for students who could be in regular classes, they slipped through the cracks. I think schools don’t put enough resources into helping those students, and they don’t seem to be a priority regarding inclusivity efforts. I know some schools have training on race and social justice, and I think if they included disability training, it would give teachers the tools to support students with disabilities in their classrooms.  “However, the lens of ableism should lead to the recognition that for some students, certain disability-related skills might need attention outside the regular classroom. Learning Braille or ASL or how to use a communication device are typically ...