Rich Cairn, senior social studies inclusion specialist for Emerging America, is leading the creation of a groundbreaking Disability History curriculum for use in K-12 classrooms, a new project funded by the Library of Congress as of October, 2021. Rich directed the Emerging America program from 2006-2021 with funding from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Program, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Teaching American History program. He established the Accessing Inquiry program to support inclusive teaching of students with disabilities and of English Learners in History, Civics, and Social Science. Rich directed the 2018 Massachusetts Civics Education Institute for the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. A graduate of Yale University, Rich earned a Master of Public Affairs from the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute at the University of Minnesota. He serves as adjunct faculty for Westfield State University. He is a recognized national leader in service-learning, civic engagement, performance assessment, environmental education, and history education–focused on access for ALL learners. He has authored numerous books and multimedia, and has designed and led hundreds of teacher workshops and courses. He is a lifelong social justice activist.
Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in the Social Studies
Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in the Social Studies
Students with disabilities face distinct challenges in social studies, including complex ideas, extensive vocabulary, and a need for broad background knowledge. Since 2006, Emerging America has guided social studies teachers with strategies and tools for inclusion, grounded in inquiry-based use of primary sources.
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