Education Commons^™

Examining The Lived Experience Of Disabilities Through Gender And Race [Presentation & Handout Activity], Melinda S. Burchard Ph.D., Sarah Myers, Mila Acosta-Morales, Mireliz Bermudez, Grace Rhinehart, Maddie Unger

Faculty Educator Scholarship

Presented at the 2024 Messiah University Humanities Symposium.

3–4 p.m. “Examining the Lived Experience of Disabilities through Gender and Race”

Jointly sponsored faculty–student colloquium: Boyer 432 •Melinda Burchard, Ph.D., Professor of Special Education •Sarah Myers, M.S.L.S., Public Services Librarian, Murray Library •Mila Acosta-Morales (2027) •Mireliz Bermudez (2025) •Grace Rhinehart (2025) •Maddie Unger (2025)

Explorations In Belonging Through Children’S Books About Migration, Melinda S. Burchard Ph.D.

Faculty Educator Scholarship

This session will actively engage with the theme of migration, supporting participants in learning about the 12 types of human migration using selected picture books and engagement activities for fun engagement with specific concepts of migration. Audience members will rotate to stations.

Sponsored by: Melinda Burchard (education)

Boyer 432

Activity stations include:

Station 1: David Hazen. Types of migration.

Station 2: Sarah Myers and Lauren Trumbore. Original lands of Indigenous People.

Station 3: Emily Nell with Sami Fisher. Native American languages.

Station 4: Lijuan Ye and Will Reeder. Exploring Chinese Traditions.

Station 5: Aly Poole and Catie Brubaker. Finding Beauty …

A Mother’S Prayer Through The Five Words Of A Son With Autism, Melinda S. Burchard Ph.D.

Faculty Educator Scholarship

Recently, my friend has been figuring out that her child has autism, processing what that means for education, for church, and for family life. She grapples with lost expectations, daily challenges, confusion, and isolation. My parenting journey is not her own, but I relate to her pain and her hopes. I wrote this first for her and now share this piece in love specifically for parents of children with disabilities. Through a very specific lens of parenting a child with a disability, using the five words of my son with severe autism, I reflect upon the deep meaning of the …

Perspectives And Practical Strategies For Disability-Related Behavior Challenges In Ministries To Children And Youth, Melinda S. Burchard Ph.D.

Faculty Educator Scholarship

Challenging behaviors happen, even within Sunday schools and ministries to children and youth. This essay explores spiritual and theoretical perspectives about disability and addressing behaviors. Teachers, leaders and volunteers may benefit from example practical strategies for planning for and responding to such challenging behaviors, especially the social, emotional and behavioral challenges related to disability.

Who Is My Friend? Resources For Teaching Media Literacy In Special Education, Melinda S. Burchard Ph.D., Lori Konopasek, Betsy Layman, Sarah Myers, Linda Poston

Faculty Educator Scholarship

Possible characteristics of autism or intellectual disabilities include vulnerability or gullibility in social situations. Therefore, some teens or adults with autism or intellectual disabilities may struggle to discern who is a true friend. In the context of media literacy, such challenges can lead to confusion in social media friend requests or related safe behaviors in using social media. This media literacy team intends for this resource to support teachers of special education or adult education to teach teens or adults with intellectual disabilities or autism about discerning friendships in the context of media literacy. A sample lesson is included.

“We Don't Talk About That Here": Teachers, Religion, Public Elementary Schools And The Embodiment Of Silence, A Binational United States And Israel Study, Tina Keller, Amy Camardese, Randa Abbas

Faculty Educator Scholarship

Globally religious diversity is on the rise yet the place of religion in public schools is often heatedly debated. This study examined the experiences of fifth graders in regards to religion in public schools in the United States and Israel. The juxtaposition of diverse countries and school settings opens the dialogue to examine how children and their teachers perceive the impact of religion while in school. The findings suggest that the impact of minority status, school curriculum, and the political and geographical contexts of schools impact the ways that religion is conceptualized in public elementary schools. In addition, the uniquenesses …