Body confident

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/stories-51206154/hannah-the-body-positive-quadruple-amputee

Hannah Olateju lives in the UK and works in social media. She is a very confident and happy person. When Hannah was 2 years old she had meningitis and had all four limbs amputated to save her life. As she was growing up, Hannah says she did not see pictures of amputees like her.

"When I was younger I never really saw people like myself on TV. I didn't see anything so I became that example for myself."

Hannah says, "People sometimes feel quite uncomfortable with an amputee and they don't really know how to cope with you or how to manage or how to speak sometimes. So I always make a point of complimenting them or making a joke, basically showing them that everything's fine."

"I think it's very important that people like myself or people who aren't seen as normal are seen in normal circumstances because we need to show people that we are just like them.... life is not that different. The only difference between you and me is that I have less limbs."

"It's OK, it's OK to be yourself. To people who think that we should just be behind the curtain and not be looked at, they need to get a life first of all, and they need to go and focus on their own life and let people like myself continue living our best life."

What do you see in the picture?
How is the person in the picture similar to you?
How is the person in the picture different to you?

explain the story

- Hannah talks about being an amputee; what is an amputee?
- Listening to Hannah talk, what do you think she feels about being an amputee?
- "People sometimes feel uncomfortable with an amputee.." why?
- why does Hannah make a joke with people when she meets them?
- what is Hannah trying to show people around her all the time?
- Why doesn't Hannah hide her limbs?
- what does the wording on the Tshirt mean?
- "Life is not that different." what does Hannah mean?
- how do you think Hannah felt growing up and never seeing images of amputees?
- If Hannah came to our school, would she feel different? How would we make sure Hannah did not feel different at our school?
- What can we learn from Hannah?
- Why is this story about No Outsiders?

www.no-outsiders.com

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the equality act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

Believe in yourself

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07p7zg4

Kuda was borm without his left foot. He says children used to laugh at him saying, "He doesn't have a leg!" but then he says he realised, "Being disabled doesn't mean you don't have anything to do in life." Today Kuda is the first disabled person to play for Zimbabwe's Homeless Football Team.

Kuda says, "I can do everything; run, jumping, somersaults. I just feel normal."

But as a young player Kuda was turned away from many junior football clubs and today he struggles to find work as people say he can't do things. he says, "I am a person, I am a human being."

He competed to play for the Homeless football team and was chosen from over 1000 players to compete in the Homeless World Cup in Cardiff last year. Now he wants to be a role model and open a disabled sports school in Zimbabwe. He says his Mum was his inspiration; when he was younger she used to tell him, "Go and face those challenges, you'll be strong one day."

Today Kuda has a message to those living with disabilities; "Believe in yourself, guys. God is for everyone, the able bodied and the disabled so keep on believing."

what do you see in the picture?
what job does the person have?
what is different about the person?

explain the story

- How do you think Kuda felt as a child when children laughed at him?
- why would football clubs turn him down?
- "I am a person, a human being, I just just feel normal": what does Kuda mean by this?
- "Go face those challenges; one day you'll be strong" what do you think of Mum's advice?
- Kuda wants to open a disabled sports club; why? What do you think of this idea? Is the sports club only for people who live with disabilities? What are the arguments for and against this idea? What other options are there?
 - Why do you think Kuda says, "Believe in yourself,"?
- what can we learn from Kuda?
- why is this story about No Outsiders?

Reflection: think about how Kuda's life is different to yours; think about the times when children laughed at him, what would yoo say if you were at school with Kuda and you saw that happening?

www.no-outsiders.com

No Outsiders in our school: teaching the Equality Act in Primary Schools by Andrew Moffat

Dementia board

https://megaphone.upworthy.com/p/doctor-dementia-whiteboard?fbclid=IwAR0R1jRcq4R1m8XEQFIuAXKSqKKX12KHZ_t5JKJ0YhY0dK_Cu6plxEt3sL4

Dr Phillip Grimmer is a doctor in Wiltshire who visits people suffering from dementia. People with dementia often experience memory loss, struggling to remember things which can cause worry and stress. They can also find difficult in thinking and problem solving.

Dr Grimmer was visiting one patient and saw this board on the wall that the patient's daughter had written to reassure her. The daughter said the board helped to reduce anxious phone calls from her Mum.

Dr Grimmer put the picture on twitter and got over 7000 likes. he said the board was, "caring, reassuring and sensible - it's just such a simple idea."

Lots of doctors commented on the picture. One said, "I have seen people talk down to those with dementia, which is just not right. they are still adults who know when they are being treated differently."

"People just do not know how to interact with them. It takes patience."

 What do you see in the picture?
where do you think it is?
who is it for?
Why is it there?

explain the story

- what is dementia?
- who can suffer from dementia? (anyone can)
- why do you think the Mum is making lots of "anxious phone calls"? what will she be saying?
- why has the daughter made this board?
- how do you think Mum feels when she reads the board?
- "I have seen people talk down to those with dementia," what does the doctor mean by this?
- why might having dementia make someone feel like an outsider?
- what is the daughter doing to try and stop her mum feeling like an outsider?
- do you think it's working? why?
- "people just do know know how to interact with them. It takes patience" what do you think the doctor is encouraging people to think about? (how to work with people who are different)
- what can we learn from the daughter in this story?
- why is this story about No Outsiders?

reflection: think about how we can care for people who need help. Think about something I can do this week to show care and compassion.

www.no-outsiders.com

No Outsiders in our school: teaching the Equality act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

utility bill

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-50871948?fbclid=IwAR0p1XYhpegJK3E1qHpI6HbwGZ2a635hzhNTJEUVUKBtFlQ3AvrtmoE2Q64

When paying his latest gas and water bill, 73 year old Michael Esmond noticed the bill said supplies would be cut off if not paid by December 26th. Michael realised this might mean some families who were struggling to afford their bills might spend the holiday without electricity or gas. So he decided to pay bills for them.

Michael contacted the city of Gulf Breeze Florida, where he lives, and asked how many families were overdue with payments. He then paid all the overdue bills, so that 36 families in his city would not have supplies cut off.

Michael back in the 1980's when he was struggling to pay bills, his gas was cut off over winter, meaning his family had no heat.

Unbeknown to Michael, the city sent out cards to all the families whose bills had been paid. The cards read, "It is our honour and privilege to inform you that your past due utility bill has been paid by Gulf Breeze Pools and Spas" (Michael's company)

"You can rest easier this holiday knowing that you have one less bill to pay."

Michael says he was inundated with messages of thanks once the cards went out. Many people have said they will pay the money forward or donate money to charity.

What do you see in the picture?
who do you think the person is?
what are they holding?
can anyone guess the story?

explain the story

- why do people need gas and electric?
- why might some people struggle to pay for gas and electric?
- why would a supply be cut off? What happens then?
- why do you think Michael had this idea?
- Did Michael know who he was paying bills for?
- the people could have been black or white, follow different religions, be in families where there are two Mums or two Dads, have disabilities, come from different countries. Why didn't Michael check first who he was paying bills for?
- what does this show about how Michael feels about difference and diversity in his city? (he doesn't care if you are different to him, he just wants you to have gas and electric and be warm)
- how do you think people felt when they heard Michael had paid their bill?
- people are saying they will 'pay it forward' what does this mean?
- Do you think news of Michael's choices and actions might have any impact on people living in his city?
- when people talk about community cohesion, what does that mean?
- why is this about No Outsiders?

www.no-outsiders.com

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

Reclaiming radical ideas in schools: Preparing young children for life in modern Britain by Andrew Moffat

Dancing on ice

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/showbiz-news/viewers-moved-tears-first-same-17516491

Two men competed in "Dancing On Ice" as a couple for the first time in the show this week. It is the first time a same-sex pair have competed in a show like this on TV. There has never been a competing same-sex couple on the ballroom dancing show Strictly, which has been running for 17 years.  One of the pair, Ian H Watkins, said after the show, "We've shown two men can perform together." "The world is ready for this."

Matt Evers, the professional skater said, "Thank you to everyone at home that is accepting of this because this is normal. It is absolutely normal."

- what do you see in the picture
-where is it?
- what do you notice about he two people in the photo?

explain the story

- This story made news across the UK; why?
- think about people you have seen dancing together on TV; have you ever seen a male and female couple dance together? Can you think of a time before this week that you saw a same-sex couple dance together? Why do you think that is?
- "The world is ready for this." what does Ian mean?
- "This is normal, it is absolutely normal" why is Matt saying that?
- What are Ian and Matt showing the world?
- If a young person who is gay or lesbian watches this, how will they feel?
- Matt said, "Thank you to everyone at home who is accepting of this," which suggests he fears some may not be accepting. But in the first vote, Matt and Ian got through, so many people did vote for them. Only sixteen people across the UK complained about Ian and Matt dancing together. What does this show about Britain today?
- what can we learn from Ian and Matt
- why is this story about No Outsiders?

www.no-outsiders.com

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the equality act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

Flowers

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3453325/The-romantic-flower-garden-world-Husband-plants-thousands-pink-blooms-people-come-spend-time-blind-wife-didn-t-feel-lonely.html

Toshiyuki Kuroki and Yasuko were married for 30 years when Yasuko began to lose her sight. She became depressed and stopped going out of the house, afraid to meet people. Toshiyuki wanted to think of a way to make his wife happy again so he worked for 10 years on a beautiful garden surrounding his house, so that people would come and visit, enjoy the garden and meet Yasuko.

Toshiyuki planted thousands of bright pink flowers around his house and thousands of visitors come to his house every year to enjoy the garden, the beautiful colour and scent, and to say hello to Yasuko. It is not only the flowers that have become famous; people want to meet Toshiyuki and Yasuko and listen to their love story. Yasuko talks to all the visitors, although she can't see them, to tell them about her story. Meeting new people every day has made Yasuko happy again and she loves the smell of the flowers surrounding her house.

what do you see in the picture?
where is the picture taken?
who do you think the people are?
what do you notice about the people?

explain the story

- Who felt like an outsider at the start of this story? Why?
- why do you think Toshiyuki decided planting flowers might help?
- it took ten years for the garden to fully grow, why didn't Toshiyuki give up?
- why do you think so many people come to visit today?
- Yasuko used to be frightened of meeting people. She is still blind, yet she talks to new people every day; what has changed?
- How has Toshiyuki stopped his wife feeling like an outsider?
- what can we learn from Yasuko?
- what can we learn from Toshiyuko?
- Why is this story about our school? (this is about recognising when someone feels like an outsider and doing something about it. Toshiyuki could not enable his wife to see again but he could find a way to make sure she felt included again. That is our aim; we need to make sure whatever challenges people face in our school, we will work together to overcome those challenges. No one is left behind here.)

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the equality act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

Reclaiming radical ideas in schools: preparing young children for life in modern Britain by Andrew Moffat

Film diversity

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-50970519?fbclid=IwAR081L6S25hcWcM_1BxTGbh76kY4cRkj6SWywbLQwGEMNClaaA1C-i1Knd0

There are reports that Marvel will include a character who is transgender in a future film. There will also be a character who is gay and another who is deaf. In the film "The Eternals" there will be the first Asian-American superhero.

Kevin  Feige, the boss of Marvel Studios says, "We want the movies to reflect the audience and we want every member of our global audience to see themselves reflected on the screen."

When speaking about the new Thor film released in 2021, the actor Tessa Thompson who plays Valkyrie was asked what her character would do in her new role as King of the new Asgard. Tessa replied, "As a new King, she needs to find her Queen".

Speaking about the gay character in  'The Eternals', Kevin said, "He's married, he's got a family, that's just part of who he is."

What do you see in the picture?
where is the photo taken from?

explain the story

- what do you notice about the characters in the picture? (all different)
- "we want every member of our global audience to see themselves reflected on screen" what does this mean?
- who goes to see films? (everyone- different race, religion, sexual orientation, disability)
- why do Marvel Studios want people to see themselves 'reflected on screen'?
- what does this tell us about Marvel Studios and their attitude to being different?
- why do you think until now there has never been an Asian-American superhero?
- why it this changing?
- "as a new King she needs to find a Queen" why is this an interesting quote?
- Marvel say there will be superheroes who are deaf, or who are gay; what does this show us bout how the world in 2020 is changing?
- when speaking about the character who is gay, Kevin says, "that's just part of who he is" what does he mean? (that being gay does not define a person, it's just one part of who they are. They could be gay and deaf and Asian-American and left handed!)
- what can we learn from Marvel Studios?
- why is this story about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: teaching the equality act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

Reclaiming radical ideas in schools: Preparing young children for life in modern Britain by Andrew Moffat