Instructions and warnings for completing this assignment: Due February 23rd.
This activity should be attempted over the course of at least eight (8) hours and up to twenty-four (24) hours. It is meant to be experienced around others and in public as appropriate. When completing this activity it is important to use common sense. Do not drive if your disability is a visual impairment! If there is a real danger or situation where your disability could cause you to harm yourself or others cease having a disability. If your disability will require you to depend on others, be sure to have those supports in place before you proceed. This activity must be completed by February 24th so please plan accordingly. If you have to do a dance recital on the day youve chosen to experience a mobility disability then you should plan to do this activity another day. If at any time you experience serious discomfort as a result of your disability stop the activity so you dont put yourself at risk for a real injury. You may be creative in identifying another way to complete the activity with the same limitations. (For example: You have noise canceling headphones and can substitute them for the ear plugs for the hearing impairment.
Choose one of the following disabling conditions and submit an essay responding to the questions posed by February 24th:
I. Visual Impairment (Blindness) Using gauze and tape to cover your eyes and wearing dark sunglasses your task is to engage in as many activities of daily living that you would do in a normal day. It may be laundry, cooking, shopping, spending time with friends or going to a movie etc.. Document your experiences while functioning with this disability. Describe Who, What, Where, When and How you felt during these interactions or while performing tasks. After you have completed this exercise, research your disability. How is the condition defined? What are the primary symptoms or conditions that cause limitations in daily activities? What percent of the population has this challenge? What types of accommodations or supports are available and can be provided to persons with this challenge? (Note: If you feel you need to get to the mall etc., you will need a driver. You can’t drive there and then begin the activity.)
II. Turret Syndrome Using the following exclamations, you are to set a timer to go off every 15 minutes and then blurt out each one in the order they appear. (You need only do this once every 15 minutes). Whizzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, tah -dahhhhhhhhhhh,, stop that. (Note: You may not make up your own expressions and may only use these three during this experience.) to respond to any conversation during this time.) Your task is to engage in as many activities of daily living that you would do in a normal day. It may be laundry, cooking, shopping, spending time with friends or going to a movie etc.. Document your experiences while functioning with this disability. Describe Who, What, Where, When and How you felt during these interactions or while performing tasks. After you have completed this exercise, research your disability. How is the condition defined? What are the primary symptoms or conditions that cause limitations in daily activities? What percent of the population has this challenge? What types of accommodations or supports are available and can be provided to persons with this challenge?
III. Mental Illness (auditory hallucinations) Using your mp3 or iPod tune your FM radio to 89.9 (NPR). (Tune only to this station or another NPR (National Public Radio) station. Do not listen to a music station, play lists or CD’s.) Use only one ear bud and turn the volume to a medium range. Keep this on for the duration of your experience. Do not lower the volume once you begin. Once every hour you must verbalize/mimic what you are hearing. You may have to interrupt someone, speak to no one (if you are alone) or interject the stimuli (what you are hearing) in an unrelated situation even if it is in the middle of a conversation. If it is an Ad you must repeat it, if its a song sing it, if theres only music hum it! You must do these for at least 10 seconds. Your task is to engage in as many activities of daily living that you would do in a normal day. It may be laundry, cooking, shopping, spending time with friends or going to a movie etc.. Document your experiences while functioning with this disability. Describe Who, What, Where, When and How you felt during these interactions or while performing tasks. After you have completed this exercise, research your disability. How is the condition defined? What are the primary symptoms or conditions that cause limitations in daily activities? What percent of the population has this challenge? What types of accommodations or supports are available and can be provided to persons with this challenge?
IV. Auditory (hearing impaired) Using ear plugs and an ace bandage, plug your ears and then wrap the bandage around your head and ears. (Yes, it should be visible and they are available at the Dollar Tree.) Your task is to engage in as many activities of daily living that you would do in a normal day. It may be laundry, cooking, shopping, spending time with friends or going to a movie etc.. Document your experiences while functioning with this disability. Describe Who, What, Where, When and How you felt during these interactions or while performing tasks. After you have completed this exercise, research your disability. How is the condition defined? What are the primary symptoms or conditions that cause limitations in daily activities? What percent of the population has this challenge? What types of accommodations or supports are available and can be provided to persons with this challenge?
V. Aphasia Using only the following expressions or statements (either verbally or written) to respond to communication from your interactions with others your task is to engage in as many activities of daily living that you would do in a normal day. I hear the green wallpaper, No, dont eat the blue speckle, Yes, I have cauliflower. (Note: You may not make up your own expressions and may only use these three to respond to any conversation during this time.) These are the only expressions or conversation you may use during this experience. It will be up to you to get others to understand what you mean through non-verbal or other means. Your task is to engage in as many activities of daily living that you would do in a normal day. It may be laundry, cooking, shopping, spending time with friends or going to a movie etc.. Document your experiences while functioning with this disability. Describe Who, What, Where, When and How you felt during these interactions or while performing tasks. After you have completed this exercise, research your disability. How is the condition defined? What are the primary symptoms or conditions that cause limitations in daily activities? What percent of the population has this challenge? What types of accommodations or supports are available and can be provided to persons with this challenge?
