3rd Grade ICSE

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07. Accepting Differences

Self Study

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Last edited 37 days ago by Learn LoopHQ.

Chapter: 07. Accepting Differences

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Discovering Our Unique Selves: Accepting Differences

Welcome to your self-study guide on “Accepting Differences”! In this chapter, you will learn important ideas about how we are all special and how we can be kind and helpful to everyone around us. Get ready to explore the amazing diversity of people and understand the true meaning of care and compassion.

What You Will Learn About

Care and Compassion: How to show kindness and understanding towards others.

People with Special Needs: Understanding what it means to be differently-abled and the unique abilities some people have.

How We Can Help: Practical ways to support and include everyone in our community.

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Key Terms to Remember

Understanding these words will help you grasp the chapter’s important messages:

Different: Not the same; distinct.

Differently-abled: People who may have physical or mental conditions that affect how they do some things, but they often have unique strengths and abilities.

Respect: Showing admiration for someone or something, treating them with consideration.

Abilities: Skills or talents that someone has.

Opportunities: A situation or time that makes it possible for you to do something you want or need to do.

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Reflecting on Our Differences

Look around you. Is everyone exactly the same? No, we are all unique! Some people might be great at drawing, others excel in science, music, or sports. These varied talents show us that everyone has different abilities.

The world is full of different kinds of people, and each person has their own needs. There are some things about us that we cannot change, such as our skin color, height, or whether we need to wear glasses or use a wheelchair. These characteristics are part of what makes us special and unique. We should accept and love these parts of ourselves. Differences between people are normal, and learning to accept them is very important.

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Understanding Differently-Abled People

People who are differently-abled are unique. They might not be able to do everything that others can, but they often have many other amazing abilities. This group includes people who:

Cannot see, speak, or hear properly.

Cannot move freely on their own (like those using wheelchairs).

Have difficulty with writing, spelling, reading, or mathematics.

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As people get older, their bodies naturally become weaker. This means that elderly people might not be able to hear or see as well as they used to, or move as freely. They need special care and attention from us.

Besides physical abilities, some children do not get the same opportunities that many others do. For example:

Some children live on the streets and might beg for money. Their parents work hard but are poor and struggle to provide food. Sometimes, they even collect food from markets to cook on the streets.

These children often don’t go to school, which limits their learning opportunities.

Some children don’t have families to care for them and live in special homes called orphanages, where they are looked after.

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How to Show You Care

Showing care and compassion makes the world a better place. Here are important ways you can help others:

Always show respect towards everyone, no matter how different they are from you.

Offer to help friends or classmates if they are finding things difficult. Remember to ask them first, as they might not need as much help as you think.

FactPedia: People who are blind sometimes use special guide dogs to help them move around safely.

Be caring towards old people. Offer to help them if they need it, and spend time with them to prevent them from feeling lonely.

If a classmate is absent from school for a few days, call to check on them and see how they are feeling.

Remember that many people are not as lucky as you.

Share your toys and gifts with others who have less.

Some students might be shy. Give them an opportunity to shine by inviting them to play with you at school.

If you see someone being bullied (hurt or frightened by others), stop it or tell your teacher.

Never make fun of a person who has different abilities from yours.

Kind people always care for others. They enjoy sharing and feel happy when they make others happy. They will also stand up against unkindness and disrespect.

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Green Earth: Removing Barriers

Did you know that nations around the world are working to make environments easier for differently-abled people to move around? This includes:

Removing mobility barriers in buildings.

Ensuring public transport is accessible.

Examples: Providing ramps, placing sanitizer dispensers and washbasins at wheelchair user level in public places like Covid care centers (as per Government of India guidelines in April 2020).

Figure Out: Have you heard of the Paralympics? These are major international multi-sport events for athletes with various disabilities, showing incredible strength and talent!

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Understanding Challenges: Empathy Building

To truly understand what it might be like for someone facing certain challenges, sometimes imagining ourselves in their shoes can help build empathy. For instance, think about:

Trying to button a shirt while wearing thick mittens. This helps you understand how difficult fine motor skills can be for some.

Trying to see through plastic glasses smeared with cream. This simulates visual impairment.

Trying to talk with a spoonful of honey in your mouth without swallowing. This demonstrates speech difficulties.

Trying to understand a friend speaking very softly from a distance. This highlights hearing challenges.

These thought exercises help us appreciate the daily efforts some people make.

Also, words can be tricky! Some sentences can be hard to read when written backwards. This can give you a small idea of how challenging reading or understanding can be for some people with learning differences. For example, “LAMRON ERA ELPOEP NEEWTEB SECNEREFFID” (DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PEOPLE ARE NORMAL) or “EKILA YLTCAXE ERA ELPOEP OWT ON” (NO TWO PEOPLE ARE EXACTLY ALIKE).

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Famous People With Special Needs

Many incredible people throughout history have achieved great things, proving that being different does not mean being less. Everyone deserves respect and equality.

Beethoven: A brilliant music composer who was deaf. His music is still enjoyed worldwide.

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Louis Braille: The inventor of Braille, a system of reading and writing for people who are visually impaired or blind. He himself was blind.

Stephen Hawking: A famous scientist known for his research on space. He had a health condition that affected his speech and movements, but he continued his groundbreaking work.

Sudha Chandran: A famous dancer who has an artificial leg. She has inspired many with her determination and talent.

These individuals show us that despite differences, we are all unique and capable of amazing accomplishments. Everyone wants two things: respect and equality.

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Stay Safe: Support for Persons with Disabilities

Governments and organizations work to ensure the safety and well-being of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), Government of India, issued special guidelines in April 2020. These guidelines ensured:

Priority treatment and testing for PwDs.

Provision of ramps in Covid care centers.

Placement of sanitizer dispensers and washbasins at wheelchair user level in these centers.

This shows a commitment to ensuring accessible and safe environments for everyone.

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Life Skills and Values: Promoting Easy Mobility

It’s important to think about how people who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids can move freely in our communities, like in markets or parks.

Challenges: Can people with mobility challenges easily access all parts of your community?

Community Support: How can people in the community help ensure everyone can move freely?

Building Changes: What changes could be made to public buildings (like adding ramps, wider doorways, accessible restrooms) so that everyone, including those with special needs, can go to public places comfortably and safely?

Reflecting on these questions helps us consider the real-world impact of inclusivity and accessibility.

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In a Nutshell: Key Takeaways

To summarize, here are the main ideas from this chapter:

Similarities and Differences: We all have things that make us alike and things that make us unique.

Respect and Kindness: It’s essential to treat everyone with respect and kindness, always.

Sharing Our Resources: Share your time and your belongings with others.

Spreading Happiness: Your actions can help spread joy and make others happy.

Caring Creates Happiness: When we share and care for one another, it creates a happier world for everyone.

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