How students are using social media to encourage inclusivity of students with illnesses and disabilities
Be sure to check out the suggested Huddle question at the bottom of this article to discuss this important topic with your students in class, if you feel it is appropriate.
Students with disabilities make up around 15% of public school enrollment — that’s over 7 million students! But even though students with disabilities and chronic illnesses make up a significant portion of the student population, they often feel excluded from other students. They may be ignored in conversations and class discussions and passed over for fun events with their peers. To foster a culture of inclusivity, students and their families are turning to social media to highlight the positive impact of embracing inclusivity both in schools and in everyday life.
On TikTok, former student Natasha Allen is posting online about her cancer journey to help students with long-term illnesses find a supportive community and feel less alone and stigmatized. On Instagram, Heather Avis posted the positive reactions her teenage daughter Macy, who has a disability, had when she was included by a classmate. She hopes her posts will encourage students to be more inclusive of their classmates with disabilities.
Natasha and Heather are among the many individuals using social media to support students with disabilities and chronic illnesses. By sharing experiences like these, educators can empower students to use their voices to promote the importance of inclusion. When students advocate for causes they believe in, such as inclusivity, they contribute to making the world a more positive and accessible place both online and offline.
How students are using social media to promote inclusion
With over 50% of students using social media daily, these platforms provide a great opportunity to promote important issues to a large audience. Natasha Allen’s vlogging and story-time TikTok posts allow hundreds of thousands of students to learn about her life and experiences with cancer. She aims to challenge the common perception that illnesses like cancer only affect older people and to destigmatize these conditions among young people. Natasha uses social media to connect with students who share her experiences and to help others relate to her more. Through her posts, she emphasizes that students with illnesses have the same interests, goals, and personalities as their peers and should not be excluded.
On Instagram, Heather Avis shared a moment when her daughter Macy, who has Down syndrome, was invited to a classmate’s party. Heather revealed that in the ten years Macy has been a student, she has only received a few birthday invitations. The video she posted captures Macy’s joyful reaction to being included. Heather hopes that by highlighting the positive effects of inclusivity on students like Macy, others will be inspired to be more inclusive, fostering a stronger sense of community and belonging. She also wants to show that something as simple as a birthday invitation can have a significant positive impact, helping students with disabilities feel more connected to their classmates and peers.
Natasha and Heather are strong examples of people who are using their mics for good on social media to promote inclusivity. They’re working to combat the exclusion of students with disabilities and chronic illnesses by showing students the impact and benefits of being inclusive and kind to others. Educators can use examples like these to empower students to use their mics for good to promote inclusivity on social media and in school. When students advocate for causes like inclusivity, they help create safer and kinder environments both online and offline.
The positive impacts of inclusivity and destigmatization
Exclusion and stigma from peers and classmates can deeply affect students with disabilities and long-term illnesses, diminishing their sense of support, importance, and connection. However, students have the power to counteract these negative effects by championing the inclusivity of their peers with disabilities. When students use their voices to foster inclusivity, it not only provides vital support to those with disabilities and chronic illnesses but also fosters a sense of belonging and appreciation. Empowering students to advocate for inclusive behavior can enhance the social connections of students with disabilities, reinforcing their sense of belonging within the school community.
Inclusivity and destigmatization can also be beneficial to education by fostering an environment where students with disabilities and illnesses can thrive in the classroom. Social exclusion can make students more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and trouble sleeping. These issues can make it harder for students to focus in class, understand and remember what they learn during lessons, and enjoy being at school. However, when students with disabilities are included both socially and academically, they are better able to develop self-esteem, skills for school and future careers, and strong friendships. This inclusive environment not only improves academic performance but also enhances social well-being. Educators can encourage students to use their mics for good on social media and tech to promote inclusivity for students with disabilities and chronic illnesses in the classroom. In doing so, they can make school a more accessible and welcoming environment for all students.
Through posts from creators like Natasha and Macy, we see the positive benefits of embracing inclusivity, ultimately leading to a more accessible world for everyone. Schools and students alike have the power to enact change and promote inclusivity. This may involve adopting new and accessible technology, or as simple as extending invitations, engaging in conversations, and valuing their perspectives.
Educators can empower students to use their mics on social media to raise awareness about creating more inclusive environments. Some students may not realize the importance of the topic until they see other students discussing it and addressing it.
TSI’s Take: Using your mic to promote inclusivity for all students
In the #WinAtSocial Lesson, Raising awareness about neurodiversity and hidden disabilities to strengthen school culture, we asked over 5,800 students what their school can do to be more inclusive for everyone. The top answer? Have quiet areas around school where you can just sit, calm your body, and de-stress.
Understanding students’ perspectives and insights empowers school communities to make their environments more inclusive and accessible. When disabled and chronically ill students feel more included socially and academically, they have the tools to be happier, healthier, and more successful both in and out of the classroom.
Educators can encourage students to use their mics for good and promote inclusiveness, showcasing examples such as Natasha and Macy. Educators and students can also adopt behaviors that make students with disabilities feel more comfortable and included at school. Here are some tips for empowering students to use their mic for good and promote inclusivity:
Use inclusive and respectful language: Educators and students can use language that makes students with disabilities and illnesses feel more included, respected, and listened to. This includes using person-first language, like saying “student with disabilities” instead of “disabled student”, and avoiding phrases like “handicapped” and “wheelchair-bound”. This can also include avoiding language that excludes students with certain disabilities, illnesses, and accessibility restrictions.
Foster connections with students who you feel are being excluded or facing stigma: If you feel that a student is being excluded or stigmatized for having a disability or an illness, make an effort to include them, connect with them, and support them. This can include inviting them to events and parties, creating activities that are accessible and inclusive, and bringing them into conversations and discussions.
Make an effort to amplify student voice: There’s no better resource for student experiences than students themselves! A great way to learn how to be more inclusive and promote accessibility is to ask students with disabilities and illnesses what could be done to make them feel more included. There might be certain language to avoid, certain ways to make events and activities more accessible, and certain behaviors to incorporate when spending time with them. Everyone has needs, and students with disabilities and illnesses deserve to have theirs met.
When educators encourage students to use their mics for good by promoting inclusivity, they empower students to create a more accessible and positive environment for students with disabilities and illnesses. Students can use the tips and resources given to create a more inclusive environment for everyone both in and out of the classroom. For more tips on creating an inclusive and accessible classroom, check out the #WinAtSocial Trending Lesson on raising awareness about students with disabilities: “Raising Awareness About Neurodiversity and Hidden Disabilities to Strengthen School Culture.”
#WinAtSocial Huddle Question
Huddle with your students
How can we use our mic for good on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram to advocate for inclusivity and support for classmates with disabilities and chronic illnesses?
The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in empowering students by understanding students. Through #WinAtSocial, our gamified, peer-to-peer learning platform, we equip students, educators, and families to navigate their social world – in the classroom and beyond, online and offline – in healthy, high-character ways. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips, rather than scares and restricts. We incorporate timely topics about social media, tech use, and current events that are impacting student well-being and learning. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach life skills for the modern day, capture student voice, and provide school leaders with actionable insights. Through these insights, students play an essential role in school efforts to support their own health, happiness, and future success as we enable high-impact teaching, meaningful family conversations, and a healthy school culture.