| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to disability history and awareness; |
| 3 | creating s. 1003.4205, F.S.; requiring district school |
| 4 | boards to designate "Disability History and Awareness |
| 5 | Weeks" during the first 2 weeks in October each year; |
| 6 | requiring students in all K-12 public schools to be |
| 7 | provided disability history and awareness instruction; |
| 8 | providing the content and goals of such instruction; |
| 9 | encouraging state postsecondary institutions to conduct |
| 10 | and promote activities related to disability history and |
| 11 | awareness; providing an effective date. |
| 12 |
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| 13 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 14 |
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| 15 | Section 1. Section 1003.4205, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 16 | to read: |
| 17 | 1003.4205 Disability history and awareness instruction.-- |
| 18 | (1) Each district school board shall provide disability |
| 19 | history and awareness instruction in all K-12 public schools in |
| 20 | the district during the first 2 weeks in October each year. The |
| 21 | district school board shall designate these 2 weeks as |
| 22 | "Disability History and Awareness Weeks." |
| 23 | (2)(a) During this 2-week period, students must be |
| 24 | provided intensive instruction to expand their knowledge, |
| 25 | understanding, and awareness of individuals with disabilities, |
| 26 | the history of disability, and the disability rights movement. |
| 27 | Disability history must include the events and timelines of the |
| 28 | development and evolution of services to, and the civil rights |
| 29 | of, individuals with disabilities. Disability history must also |
| 30 | include the contributions of specific individuals with |
| 31 | disabilities, including the contributions of acknowledged |
| 32 | national leaders. |
| 33 | (b) The instruction must be integrated into the existing |
| 34 | school curriculum in ways including, but not limited to, |
| 35 | supplementing lesson plans, holding school assemblies, or |
| 36 | providing other school-related activities. The instruction may |
| 37 | be delivered by qualified school personnel or by knowledgeable |
| 38 | guest speakers, with a particular focus on including individuals |
| 39 | with disabilities. |
| 40 | (3) The goals of disability history and awareness |
| 41 | instruction include: |
| 42 | (a) Better treatment for individuals with disabilities, |
| 43 | especially for youth in school, and increased attention to |
| 44 | preventing the bullying or harassment of students with |
| 45 | disabilities. |
| 46 | (b) Encouragement to individuals with disabilities to |
| 47 | develop increased self-esteem, resulting in more individuals |
| 48 | with disabilities gaining pride in being an individual with a |
| 49 | disability, obtaining postsecondary education, entering the |
| 50 | workforce, and contributing to their communities. |
| 51 | (c) Reaffirmation of the local, state, and federal |
| 52 | commitment to the full inclusion in society of, and the equal |
| 53 | opportunity for, all individuals with disabilities. |
| 54 | Section 2. State postsecondary institutions are encouraged |
| 55 | to conduct and promote activities on their campuses that provide |
| 56 | education, understanding, and awareness of individuals with |
| 57 | disabilities, disability history, and the disability rights |
| 58 | movement. |
| 59 | Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2008. |