DISABILITIES

AWARENESS
 BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
MERIT BADGE SERIES

DISABILITIES
AWARENESS

“Enhancing our youths’ competitive edge through merit badges”

 Requirements
1. Do the following:
a. Define and discuss with your counselor the following
disabilities awareness terms: disability, accessibility,
adaptation, accommodation, invisible disability,
person-first language, and inclusion.
b. Explain why proper disability etiquette is important, and
how it may differ depending on the specific disability. Give
three examples.

2. Visit an agency that works with people with physical, mental,

emotional, or educational disabilities. Collect and read informa-
tion about the agency’s activities. Learn about opportunities its
members have for training, employment, and education.
Discuss what you have learned with your counselor.

3. Do TWO of the following:

a. Talk with a Scout who has a disability and learn about the
Scout’s experiences taking part in Scouting activities and
earning different merit badges. Discuss what you have
learned with your counselor.
b. Talk with an individual who has a disability and learn
about this person’s experiences and the activities in which
this person likes to participate. Discuss what you have
learned with your counselor.
c. Learn how people with disabilities take part in a particular
adaptive sport or recreational activity. Discuss what you
have learned with your counselor.
d. Learn about independent living aids such as service ani-
mals, canes, and augmentative communication devices
such as captioned telephones and videophones. Discuss
with your counselor how people use such aids.

35883
ISBN 978-0-8395-3370-2
©2021 Boy Scouts of America
2021 Printing
 e. Plan or participate in an activity that helps others
understand what a person with a visible or invisible
disability experiences. Discuss what you have learned
with your counselor.

4. Do EITHER option A or option B:

Option A. Visit TWO of the following locations and take
notes about the accessibility to people with disabilities.
In your notes, give examples of five things that could
be done to improve upon the site and five things about
the site that make it friendly to people with disabilities.
Discuss your observations with your counselor.
• Your school
• Your place of worship
• A Scouting event or campsite
• A public exhibit or attraction (such as a theater,
museum, or park)
Option B. Visit TWO of the following locations and take
notes while observing features and methods that are
used to accommodate people with invisible disabilities.
While there, ask staff members to explain any accommo-
dation features that may not be obvious. Note anything
you think could be done to better accommodate people
who have invisible disabilities. Discuss your observations
with your counselor.
• Your school
• Your place of worship
• A Scouting event or campsite
• A public exhibit or attraction (such as a theater,
museum, or park)

5. Explain what advocacy is. Do ONE of the following

advocacy activities:
a. Present a counselor-approved disabilities awareness
program to a Cub Scout pack or other group. During
your presentation, explain and use person-first language.
b. Find out about disabilities awareness education programs
in your school or school system, or contact a disability
advocacy agency. Volunteer with a program or agency for
eight hours.

DISABILITIES AWARENESS    3
 c. Using resources such as disability advocacy agencies,
government agencies, the internet (with your parent’s
permission), and news magazines, learn about myths
and misconceptions that influence the general public’s
understanding of people with disabilities. List 10 myths
and misconceptions about people with disabilities and
learn the facts about each myth. Share your list with
your counselor, then use it to make a presentation to a
Cub Scout pack or other group.

6. Make a commitment to your merit badge counselor describ-

ing what you will do to show a positive attitude about
people with disabilities and to encourage positive attitudes
among others. Discuss how your awareness has changed as
a result of what you have learned.

7. Name five professions that provide services to people with

disabilities. Pick one that interests you and find out the edu-
cation, training, and experience required for this profession.
Discuss what you learn with your counselor, and tell why
this profession interests you.

4    DISABILITIES AWARENESS
 .Disabilities Awareness Resources

Disabilities Awareness
Resources
Scouting Literature Scouts BSA handbook in large print.
Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Pilots and Program Development,
Athletics, Citizenship in the Community, Boy Scouts of America.
Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the Send requests via email to
World, Communication, Digital Technology, advancement.team@scouting.org.
Engineering, First Aid, Inventing, Medicine,
The following materials are
Public Speaking, Robotics, Signs, Signals,
available at www.scouting.org/
and Codes, and Sports merit badge pam-
resources/disabilities-awareness/:
phlets; Guide to Safe Scouting, No. 34416;
and Guide to Advancement, No. 33088 • Scouting With Special Needs and
(section 10.0.0.0) Disabilities, an information sheet
• Guide to Working With Scouts With
With your parent’s permission, visit Special Needs and Disabilities,
the Boy Scouts of America’s official No. 510-071
retail website, www.scoutshop.org, • Scouting for Youth With Disabilities
for a complete listing of all merit Manual, No. 34059
badge pamphlets and other helpful • Individual Scout Advancement Plan,
Scouting materials and supplies. No. 512-936
• Abilities Digest newsletter
Scout Life magazine in Braille. National
Library Service for the Blind and For more information, email Disabilities.
Print Disabled, Library of Congress, Awareness@scouting.org.
Washington DC.
Toll-free telephone: 800-424-8567 Resources for bullying prevention are
available at www.scouting.org/training/
youth-protection/bullying/.

DISABILITIES AWARENESS    5
Disabilities Awareness Resources.

Books Hoopmann, Kathy. Blue Bottle Mystery:

An Asperger Adventure. Jessica Kingsley
Fiction Publishers, 2006. A boy with Asperger’s
Many of these novels are classics avail- syndrome and his friend travel an
able in several editions and formats exciting fantasy adventure when they
including audio and large print. discover an old bottle.
Burnett, Frances Hodgson. The Secret Janover, Caroline. How Many Days Until
Garden. HarperCollins, 2010. A lonely Tomorrow? Woodbine House, 2000. A
boy in a wheelchair misbehaves until boy with dyslexia spends an island sum-
his orphaned cousin moves in. A locked mer with his grandparents, developing
garden brings them closer as they trans- strengths and discovering new talents.
form the garden and themselves. Konigsburg, E.L. The View from
Byars, Betsy. The Summer of the Swans. Saturday. Aladdin Paperbacks, 1998.
Puffin Books, 2004. A teenager gains Four unique students attract the atten-
new insight into herself and her family tion of their paraplegic teacher, who
when her brother with cognitive disabili- chooses them to represent their class in
ties goes missing. the Academic Bowl.
De Angeli, Marguerite. The Door in Lord, Cynthia. Rules. Scholastic Press,
the Wall. Yearling Books, 1998. In 14th- 2008. A sister helps her brother with
century England, a boy with physical autism understand how to live in a world
disabilities proves his courage. that does not always have compassion.
Dorris, Michael. Sees Behind Trees. Martin, Ann M. A Corner of the Universe.
Disney-Hyperion, 1999. An American Scholastic, 2004. After a school for
Indian boy with a special gift to “see” people with developmental disabilities
beyond his limited eyesight journeys closes, a family must deal with a child-
with an old warrior to a land of mystery like young man whose existence they
and beauty. have denied for years.
Draper, Sharon. Out of My Mind. Mikaelsen, Ben. Petey. Hyperion Books,
Atheneum Books, 2012. When a girl 2010. A man with cerebral palsy is
with cerebral palsy who cannot walk or misdiagnosed and institutionalized.
talk is given a device that lets her “speak,” Sixty years later, he befriends a boy
she surprises everyone around her. and shares with him the joy of life.
Flegg, Aubrey. The Cinnamon Tree. Philbrick, Rodman. Freak the Mighty.
O’Brien Press, 2000. When a land mine Scholastic Paperbacks, 2001. Two boys
explodes beneath her, Yola Abonda must unite to become a powerful team, using
learn to walk again after the amputation their unique, differently abled talents as
of her leg. their strengths.

6    DISABILITIES AWARENESS
 .Disabilities Awareness Resources

Polacco, Patricia. The Junkyard Wonder. introduction to the expressive language

Philomel Books, 2010. A teacher used by many deaf people to speak
inspires her class of students with with their hands.
special needs to greater heights, and Floyd, Ingrid. Opening the Gate: Stories
discovers hidden genius. and Activities About Athletes With
Taylor, Theodore. The Cay. Yearling Disabilities. CreateSpace, 2013. An
Books, 2003. During World War II, an introduction to the world of wheel-
adolescent boy, blinded by a blow on chairs and prosthetics, with outstanding
the head, and an old man are stranded athletes recounting the experiences that
on a tiny island where the boy gains a helped them participate effectively in
new kind of vision. sports and led them to the top of their
Winkler, Henry. Niagara Falls, or Does athletic careers.
It? Turtleback Books, 2003. In a series Freedman, Russell. Out of Darkness:
inspired by the author’s own experi- The Story of Louis Braille. Clarion
ences with undiagnosed dyslexia, a Books, 1999. A biography of the 19th-
fourth-grader decides to “show’” how century Frenchman who developed
he spent his summer instead of writing a system of raised dots on paper that
the usual essay. enabled others who are blind to read
and write.
Nonfiction
Kent, Deborah, and Kathryn A.
Abramovitz, Melissa. Multiple Sclerosis. Quinlan. Extraordinary People With
Lucent Books, 2010. Offers insights into Disabilities. Children’s Press, 1997. A
the neurological disease known as MS, collection of biographies of 48 famous
what causes it, and how people live people who made great accomplish-
with it. ments despite their disability.
Autism Speaks. Leading the Way: Kling, Andrew A. Cerebral Palsy. Lucent
Autism-Friendly Youth Organization Books, 2012. Discusses the incurable
Guide, 2013. A guide to help commu- disorder that strikes about two in 1,000
nity organizations make their programs infants yearly in the United States.
more inclusive of children with autism.
Krueger, Tira. Taking Tourette Syndrome
Corman, Richard. I Am Proud: The to School. JayJo Books, 2002. Portrays
Athletes of Special Olympics. Barnes & Tourette syndrome from the point of
Noble Books, 2003. Portrays athletes’ view of a child who has the condition.
dignity, grace, and joy in competition.
Lauren, Jill. That’s Like Me! Stories
Dougherty, Terri. Epilepsy. Lucent About Amazing People With Learning
Books, 2009. Explains types of seizures Differences. Star Bright Books, 2009.
and their triggers, and provides a Stories of 16 adults and young
historical perspective on treatments. people who overcome by focusing
Flodin, Mickey. Signing for Kids: The on their strengths instead of their
Fun Way for Anyone to Learn American learning disabilities.
Sign Language. Perigee Books, 2007. An
DISABILITIES AWARENESS    7
Disabilities Awareness Resources.

Meyer, Donald, ed. Views From Our Vujicic, Nick. Life Without Limits.
Shoes: Growing Up With a Brother or Crown Publishing, 2010. Portrays a
Sister With Special Needs. Woodbine man born without arms or legs who
House, 1997. Children ages 4 to 18 lives a rich, fulfilling, independent life
share their experiences of having a as an internationally successful motiva-
sibling with a disability. tional speaker.
Naff, Clayton Farris, ed. Muscular Warner, Penny. Learn to Sign the
Dystrophy. Greenhaven Press, 2011. Fun Way! Three Rivers Press, 2001.
Explains the causes and treatments Provides games and other activities
of muscular dystrophy. that help the reader learn to sign.
Oleksy, Walter G. Christopher Reeve. Weihenmayer, Erik. Touch the Top of
Greenhaven Press, 1999. Discusses the World: A Blind Man’s Journey to
the life-altering accident of the actor Climb Farther Than the Eye Can See.
known for his role as Superman and Plume Books, 2002. An adventure-
for his efforts on behalf of people with packed memoir in which the author
spinal cord injuries. recalls becoming blind, acquiring a
Paquette, Penny Hutchins, and Cheryl passion for mountain climbing, and
Gerson Tuttle. Learning Disabilities: succeeding in climbing Mount Everest.
The Ultimate Teen Guide. Scarecrow Williams, Donna. Nobody Nowhere:
Press, 2006. Gives teenagers dealing The Remarkable Autobiography of
with learning disabilities tools for an Autistic Girl. Jessica Kingsley
coping with the obstacles they face. Publishers, 2004. Takes readers into
Rogers, Dale Evans. Angel Unaware. the mind of a person who has autism,
Revell, 2007. The story of a child with giving an insider’s view of a little-
Down syndrome born to celebrities understood condition.
Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Woodyard, Shawn, and others.
Stern, Judith, and Uzi Ben-Ami. Many Resources for People With Disabilities:
Ways to Learn: A Kid’s Guide to LD. A National Directory, 2nd ed. Ferguson
Magination Press, 2010. Describes Publishing, 2001. Provides information
different learning disabilities and the about advocacy, assistive technology,
many things children with LD can do organizations and associations, reha-
to reach their goals. bilitations, state programs, and more.

Verdick, Elizabeth, and Elizabeth

Reeve. The Survival Guide for Kids
With Autism Spectrum Disorder
(and Their Parents). Free Spirit
Publishing, 2012. Helps young people
with autism spectrum disorders under-
stand their condition.

8    DISABILITIES AWARENESS
 .Disabilities Awareness Resources

Organizations and Websites American Foundation for the Blind

2 Penn Plaza, Suite 1102
In addition to those listed here, many
New York, NY 10121
local and regional organizations
Telephone: 212-502-7600
support people with disabilities.
Website: http://afb.org
Internet searches (with your parent’s
permission) will help you find them. American Printing House for the
Blind Inc.
AbleData
1839 Frankfort Ave.
103 W. Broad St., Suite 400
Louisville, KY 40206
Falls Church, VA 22046
Toll-free telephone: 800-223-1839
Toll-free telephone: 800-227-0216
Website: www.aph.org
Website: https://abledata.acl.gov/
American Speech-Language-
Adaptive Sports USA
Hearing Association
P.O. Box 621023
2200 Research Blvd.
Littleton, CO 80162 Rockville, MD 20850-3289
Telephone: 720-412-7979 Toll-free telephone: 800-638-8255
Website: Website: www.asha.org
www.adaptivesportsusa.org
The Arc
American Academy of Physical 1825 K St. NW, Suite 1200
Medicine and Rehabilitation Washington, DC 20006
9700 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Suite 200 Toll-free telephone: 800-433-5255
Rosemont, IL 60018 Website: https://thearc.org
Toll-free telephone: 877-227-6799
Website: www.aapmr.org Attention Deficit
Disorder Association
American Association of Toll-free telephone: 800-939-1019
People With Disabilities Website: www.add.org
2013 H St. NW, Fifth Floor
Washington, DC 20006 Autism Empowerment
Toll-free telephone: 800-840-8844 P.O. Box 871676
Website: www.aapd.com Vancouver, WA 98687
Telephone: 360-852-8369
American Association on Intellectual Website:
and Developmental Disabilities www.autismempowerment.org
8403 Colesville Road, Suite 900
Autism Society
Silver Spring, MD 20910
6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 305
Telephone: 202-387-1968
Rockville, MD 20852
Website: http://aaidd.org
Toll-free telephone: 646-385-8500
American Council of the Blind Website: www.autism-society.org
1703 N. Beauregard St., Suite 420
Alexandria, VA 22311
Toll-free telephone: 800-424-8666
Website: http://acb.org
DISABILITIES AWARENESS    9
Disabilities Awareness Resources.

Autism Speaks Disabled Sports USA

1 E. 33rd St., Fourth Floor 451 Hungerford Drive, Suite 608
New York, NY 10016 Rockville, MD 20850
Telephone: 212-252-8584 Telephone: 301-217-0960
Website: www.autismspeaks.org Website:
www.disabledsportsusa.org
BlazeSports America
1670 Oakbrook Drive, Suite 331 Easter Seals
Norcross, GA 30093 141 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 1400A
Telephone: 404-270-2000 Chicago, IL 60604
Website: http://blazesports.org Toll-free telephone: 800-221-6827
Bookshare Website: www.easterseals.com
Website: www.bookshare.org Goodwill Industries International Inc.
Brain Injury Association of America 15810 Indianola Drive
1608 Spring Hill Road, Suite 110 Rockville, MD 20855
Vienna, VA 22182 Toll-free telephone: 800-466-3945
Telephone: 703-761-0750 Website: www.goodwill.org
Website: www.biausa.org Guide Dogs for the Blind
Children and Adults With Attention- P.O. Box 151200
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder San Rafael, CA 94915-1200
National Resource Center on ADHD Toll-free telephone: 800-295-4050
4221 Forbes Blvd., Suite 270 Website: www.guidedogs.com
Lanham, MD 20706 Helping Hands
Telephone: 301-306-7070 541 Cambridge St.
Website: www.chadd.org Boston, MA 02134
Disability Is Natural Telephone: 617-787-4419
P.O. Box 39076 Website: https://monkeyhelpers.org/
San Antonio, TX 78218 International Dyslexia Association
Telephone: 210-320-0678 40 York Road, Fourth Floor
Website: Baltimore, MD 21204
www.disabilityisnatural.com Telephone: 410-296-0232
Disabled American Veterans Website: https://dyslexiaida.org
3725 Alexandria Pike Learning Disabilities Association
Cold Spring, KY 41076 of America
Toll-free telephone: 877-426-2838 461 Cochran Road, Suite 245
Website: www.dav.org Pittsburgh, PA 15228
Telephone: 412-341-1515
Website: https://ldaamerica.org

10    DISABILITIES AWARENESS
 .Disabilities Awareness Resources

Mental Health America National Federation of the Blind

500 Montgomery St., Suite 820 200 E. Wells St. at Jernigan Place
Alexandria, VA 22314 Baltimore, MD 21230
Toll-free telephone: 800-969-6642 Telephone: 410-659-9314
Website: www.mhanational.orgt Website: http://nfb.org
Muscular Dystrophy National Library Service for the
Association USA Blind and Print Disabled
161 N. Clark St., Suite 3550 1291 Taylor St. NW
Chicago, IL 60601 Washington, DC 20542
Toll-free telephone: 800-572-1717 Toll-free telephone: 800-424-8567
Website: www.mda.org Website: www.loc.gov/nls
National Association of the Deaf National Multiple Sclerosis Society
8630 Fenton St., Suite 820 Toll-free telephone: 800-344-4867
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3819 Website:
Telephone: 301-587-1788 www.nationalmssociety.org
Website: www.nad.org
National Organization on Disability
National Center for 77 Water St., Suite 204
Learning Disabilities New York, NY 10005
31 Thomas Circle NW, Suite 700 Telephone: 646-505-1191
Washington, DC 20005 Website: www.nod.org
Toll-free telephone: 888-575-7373
National Rehabilitation
Website: www.ncld.org
Information Center
National Center on Health, 8400 Corporate Drive, Suite 500
Physical Activity, and Disability Landover, MD 20785
4000 Ridgeway Drive Toll-free telephone: 800-346-2742
Birmingham, AL 35209 Website: www.naric.com
Toll-free telephone: 800-900-8086
Special Olympics International
Website: www.nchpad.org
1133 19th St. NW
National Down Syndrome Congress Washington, DC 20036-3604
30 Mansell Court, Suite 108 Toll-free telephone: 800-700-8585
Roswell, GA 30076 Website: http://specialolympics.org
Telephone: 800-232-6372
TASH
Website: http://ndsccenter.org
(Equity, Opportunity, and Inclusion for
National Down Syndrome Society People with Disabilities)
8 E. 41st St., Eighth Floor 1101 15th St. NW, Suite 206
New York, NY 10017 Washington, D.C. 20005
Toll-free telephone: 800-221-4602 Telephone: 202-817-3264
Website: www.ndss.org Website: https://tash.org

DISABILITIES AWARENESS    11
Disabilities Awareness Resources.

Telecommunications Relay Acknowledgments

Service (TRS)
The Boy Scouts of America thanks
Federal Communications Commission
the following individuals, who were
445 12th St. SW
generous with their knowledge and
Washington, DC 20554
time in assisting us with the Disabilities
Toll-free telephone: 888-225-5322
Awareness merit badge pamphlet.
Website:
www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/tele- • Sara Qureshi, director, Program
communications-relay-service-trs Support, The Kids on the Block
United Cerebral Palsy • Chris Privett, communications
1825 K St. NW, Suite 600 director, The Arc of the United States
Washington, DC 20006 • Doug Hind, manager, Special
Toll-free telephone: 800-872-5827 Curriculum, The Church of Jesus
Website: http://ucp.org Christ of Latter-day Saints
United States Association • Dale McClellan, administrative
of Blind Athletes assistant to the Young Men general
1 Olympic Plaza presidency, The Church of Jesus
Colorado Springs, CO 80909 Christ of Latter-day Saints
Telephone: 719-866-3224
The Boy Scouts of America is grateful
Website: http://usaba.org
to the men and women serving on the
USA Deaf Sports Federation National Merit Badge Subcommittee for
P.O. Box 2011 the improvements made in updating
Santa Fe, NM 87502 this pamphlet.
Website: www.usdeafsports.org
Photo and Illustration Credits
U.S. Paralympics
1 Olympic Plaza Burke-Triolo Productions—page 69
Colorado Springs, CO 80909-5760 CapTel®/Ultratec Inc., courtesy; CapTel
Telephone: 719-866-2030 is a registered trademark of Ultratec
Website: www.teamusa.org/ Inc.—page 26 (captioned telephone)
US-Paralympics
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential
Library/Margaret Suckley,
courtesy—page 14 (Roosevelt)
©Guide Dogs for the Blind Inc.,
courtesy—cover (guide dog);
pages 22 and 23

12    DISABILITIES AWARENESS
 .Disabilities Awareness Resources

Hemera Technologies—pages Wikipedia.org/James38—

17 and 52 page 26 (videophone)
Library of Congress Prints and Wikipedia.org/©Matt Martin, courtesy—
Photographs Division, courtesy— page 14 (Tebow)
page 14 (Tubman) All other photos and illustrations not
National Sports Center for the Disabled, mentioned above are the property
courtesy—cover (skier) of or are protected by the Boy Scouts
Randall Anderson/Rossmiller of America.
Photography, courtesy— Dan Bryant— pages 8, 34 (street), 35,
page 14 (Waddell) and 43
San Diego Hall of Champions, Tom Copeland Jr.—pages 13 and 32
courtesy—page 14 (Larson) Greg Crenshaw—page 5
Shutterstock.com—cover (wheelchair, Ernest Doclar—page 29
©Jevgeni Mironov; prosthesis, (basketball game)
©Andrew Mayovskyy); pages 10
(©michaeljung), 15 (©Andrey_ Al Drago—page 7
Popov), 21 (©Goodluz), 25 (cane, Daniel Giles—pages 4, 40, and 60
©Ververidis Vasilis; wheelchair,
Jeff Hattrick—page 20
©Jevgeni Mironov), 26 (smartphone,
©Sasithon-sj), 27 (man, ©Monika Mary Oakes—page 48
Wisniewska; woman signing, Randy Piland—pages 6, 30, 33, and 37
©adriaticfoto; woman on phone,
Steve Seeger—page 28
©Elena Elisseeva; manual alphabet,
©Littlekidmoment), 34 (wheelchair, Trey Spovey—page 51
©Konstantin Yolshin), 36 (man
with recorder, ©wavebreakmedia), 38
(©Phovoir), 41 (©Chad McDermott),
42 (ribbon, ©GWImages), 45
(©Phovoir), 54 (©Deflector Image),
56 (©Monkey Business Images),
57 (©Monkey Business Images),
58 (©Photographee.eu), and 59
(©Monkey Business Images)
Special Olympics, courtesy—
page 42 (athlete)
Wikipedia.org, courtesy—cover
(hearing aid); page 29 (skier)
Wikipedia.org/Sarah Chester,
courtesy—cover (folding cane)

DISABILITIES AWARENESS    13