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