Hidden Voices: Americans with Disabilities in United States History

The Hidden Voices project was initiated to help students learn about and honor the innumerable people, often “hidden” from the traditional historical record, who have shaped and continue to shape our history and identity. Hidden Voices: Americans with Disabilities in United States History delves into the perspectives, experiences, and impact that Americans with disabilities have had—and continue to have—on United States history. These individuals influenced the social, political, cultural, and economic landscapes of the United States in so many ways, and their contributions continue to shape our collective history and identity. Teaching students the different and often conflicting concepts and issues that impact innumerable groups will help them better understand the factors that contributed to the birth, growth, and development of the United States, and New York City specifically, while developing empathy for the points of view and perspectives within various groups.

The resource guides developed for Phase III of the Hidden Voices initiative continue to be aligned to the Passport to Social Studies curriculum and now also establish the vital contextual settings and background knowledge essential to help teachers of all content areas facilitate and explore inclusive learning experiences that examine the contributions of underrepresented individuals and groups. Hidden Voices encourages educators to honor the complexity of culture, develop respect for differences, teach from multiple perspectives, and ensure that instructional materials reflect a wide variety of racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds.