ABC: Attitudes and Behaviour Cards

At the certificate ceremony of TIU4 (Training of Disability Coordinators) on 3^rd July 2009, each participant was given a set of Attitudes and Behaviour Cards.  An ABC set has 29 cards, each with a sentence: 14 negative statements, 14 positive statements, and one blank spare card.  The words were originally said by disabled students at the Middle East Technical University (Ankara, TR): something had happened, the student was upset/ angry/ demoralised…  As the student talked about the event and their feelings, they gradually were able to say what they didn’t want;  later, we found words to express what they did want.   The pairs of sentences grew.  We used them as Do’s and Don’ts for volunteers.  Then we realised these sentences could be used in many ways, when written separately on old bus cards.  A special printing of 200 sets (English and Turkish) was produced by the TIU project.

How to use ABC:

• Using these sentences, people become more confident, more skilled and more sensitive at talking about disability and difference.  Everyone develops in different ways; each time, one can realise something new, a different aspect, another parallel.  The aim is to develop empathy, depth of understanding and breadth of vision.  It is not to ; it is not about being right, or being the fastest or making the original pairings, as soon as possible.
• These words of (unknown) disabled students get others (disabled or not) thinking: the focus is on the words, not the speaker or the event.  What feelings and meanings are carried?  Is the meaning clear, does everyone understand the same thing? 
• The cards can be used in many ways: I find the best size is between 10-20.    They can be used on a one-to-one basis with someone who is finding it difficult to talk about their feelings.  They have even been used with a group of 150 people. 
  
• You need enough sets of 28 'cards' for groups of 3 or 4.  For 18 people, 6 sets; print the cards (Negatives and Positives; on pastel pink/green paper, so the different sets can be easily differentiated).  Cut them into the separate pieces and secure with paper clips. 
  
• First explain the activity, and do one example together.  
• Give each small group (3 or 4) a set of 14 negatives.   As a group, they must try to find words and agree on how to express their ideas; for each negative, they must agree on a opposite positive statement.  This can take about half an hour later. 
  
• When most groups have made nearly 14 guesses (do not wait for everyone to finish, because some groups work very deeply, in great detail; other groups should not get too bored waiting), give out the positive cards: they must now pair the cards.  
• To finish the activity: groups take turns to say one pairing that they made: the Group discuss whether they agree.     
• The set has also been used for drama activities and role play, for teacher and volunteer training, with parents and disabled students. 

Please tell us about any other ways that you have used, so that others can try too.