Franklin Roosevelt and Hiding his Disability

This lesson plan focuses on how FDR hid and the people around him helped to keep the image of his disability out of the press and minds of Americans. The goal of this lesson is to have students explore the stigma associated with disability and how it influenced one of the most powerful and influential presidents in American history. By looking at how the stigma of disability influenced FDR to take steps to hide his disability, students will be able to understand how powerful and debilitating the stigma put on disabled people is. This lesson plan will add more to students knowledge of FDR and it will make them challenge their preconceived notions surrounding disability and the stigma associated with it. By the end of this lesson, students will be able to understand how the stigma its self is more harmful than any disability.