Study guides · Stuff Every Inclusion Scout Should Know
Practice facts for the Disabilities Awareness merit badge. Not an official Scouting America credential. Grab a snack: this guide is the friendly version, with the answers explained and a groan-worthy joke waiting at the end of most cards.
Knowing Inclusion Scout saves you money, time and the occasional embarrassment.
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Short answer: A condition that makes activities or equal access harder
Disability is about difficulty doing activities or having fair access in society, not mood or skill.
Groan of the day: That definition has good access to my brain.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: Asthma
Asthma is listed as an invisible disability because it is not immediately apparent.
Groan of the day: Asthma is invisible, but the inhaler is a breath of fresh air.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: Puts the person before the disability
Person-first language places the person before the disability, as in a person with a disability.
Groan of the day: Person-first means the person gets first dibs on the sentence.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: How available a product or place is to people who need it
Accessibility measures whether a product, service, or environment is usable by the people who need it.
Groan of the day: Accessibility is the open door of design.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: A change that improves access for a person or group
Accommodation is a change made to improve access for an individual or group.
Groan of the day: Accommodations make room for everyone.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: Make environments inclusive for as many people as possible
Universal design aims to make environments inclusive to the greatest extent possible, unlike one-off accommodations.
Groan of the day: Universal design is a crowd pleaser.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: Society creates barriers that disable people
The social model says society and its barriers create disability, so society should change.
Groan of the day: The social model says fix the door, not the person.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: Finding causes and cures for disabilities
The medical model treats disability as a condition needing treatment and focuses on causes and cures.
Groan of the day: The medical model is all about the diagnosis.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: Devices or changes that help overcome a disability
Assistive technology includes devices and modifications that help remove or overcome barriers.
Groan of the day: Assistive tech lends a helping hand.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: Large print text
Large print is listed as assistive technology that helps people access text.
Groan of the day: Large print makes a big difference.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: Universal design that helps many people
Curb cuts are structural innovations of universal design that make access easier for all.
Groan of the day: Curb cuts are a smooth move.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: Rights and opportunities of persons with disabilities
The convention protects and enhances rights and opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Groan of the day: Rights are a global team effort.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: Equal opportunities and equal rights
The movement aims for equal opportunities and rights, including access and freedom from abuse.
Groan of the day: Equal rights are a moving idea.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: Speaking up for yourself and your needs
Disabled people use self-advocacy to push back against marginalization and speak for themselves.
Groan of the day: Self-advocacy is speaking your own language.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: Natural variation in how brains work
Neurodiversity refers to natural variation in how people think, process information, and experience the world.
Groan of the day: Neurodiversity means many minds, many finds.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: A condition with periods of wellness between episodes
Some conditions have episodes of illness with periods of wellness in between.
Groan of the day: Episodic means the plot has episodes.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: An injury that may resolve over time
Some causes of disability, such as injuries, may resolve over time and are considered temporary.
Groan of the day: Temporary does not mean unimportant.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: A disability that occurs during a person's lifetime
An acquired disability results from impairments that occur during life rather than at birth.
Groan of the day: Acquired means life added a plot twist.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: A medieval trading game
Handicap derives from hand-in-cap, a medieval game where a neutral person judged value differences.
Groan of the day: That word has quite a history in its cap.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: It can imply disability is a burden
The term can add to the idea of disability as a burden or individual problem rather than a societal one.
Groan of the day: Some words carry extra weight.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: They see autism as part of their identity
Many autistic self-advocates see autism as an inherent part of identity, like other identities.
Groan of the day: Identity is not a side dish.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: Ask the person or community their preference
Advocates say best practice is to use both styles and alternate unless a preference is stated.
Groan of the day: When in doubt, ask it out.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: Help a person with daily tasks
The badge resources cover service animals as independent living aids that help people.
Groan of the day: Service animals are on the job with paws and purpose.
Short answer: A tool that helps a person communicate
Augmentative communication devices such as captioned telephones help people communicate.
Groan of the day: Communication devices give words a boost.
Short answer: Navigate safely
Canes are independent living aids that help people with mobility or vision needs navigate.
Groan of the day: A cane can point the way.
Short answer: A false belief that influences public understanding
The badge asks Scouts to learn myths and misconceptions and the facts that correct them.
Groan of the day: Myths are stories that need a fact check.
Short answer: It shows respect and can differ by disability
Proper etiquette matters and may differ depending on the specific disability.
Groan of the day: Etiquette is respect with good manners.
Short answer: Person-first language
The badge asks Scouts to explain and use person-first language during a presentation.
Groan of the day: Present with respect and clear words.
Short answer: Talk with a person who has a disability
The badge encourages talking with individuals about their experiences and activities.
Groan of the day: Listening is a great conversation starter.
Short answer: Taking notes on friendly features and improvements
Scouts observe five friendly features and five possible improvements at a location.
Groan of the day: Notes make access observations noteworthy.
Short answer: Accommodation features that may not be obvious
Scouts ask staff to explain accommodation features that may not be obvious.
Groan of the day: Ask staff, and the answer may surprise you.
Short answer: Physical therapist
The badge asks Scouts to name five professions providing services to people with disabilities.
Groan of the day: Therapy is a helping profession.
Short answer: Adjusts an activity so people with disabilities can take part
The badge covers how people with disabilities take part in adaptive sports and recreation.
Groan of the day: Adaptive sports adapt to the player.
Short answer: What a person with vision loss may experience
Simulations help others understand what a person with a visible or invisible disability experiences.
Groan of the day: Simulation is a walk in another's shoes.
Short answer: Showing respect and encouraging others to do the same
The badge asks Scouts to commit to positive attitudes and encourage them in others.
Groan of the day: Commit to kindness and it commits back.
Short answer: Communication using pictures
The Picture Exchange Communication System is an alternative communication system for people with communication challenges.
Groan of the day: PECS speaks in pictures.
Short answer: So visitors who are blind can read it
Braille was added to make the sign usable by visitors who are blind or visually impaired.
Groan of the day: Braille bumps up accessibility.
Short answer: Experience challenges faced by people with disabilities
The disAbilities Awareness Challenge lets Scouts experience challenges faced by individuals with disabilities.
Groan of the day: Challenges can be eye opening.
Short answer: It can be noticed by others
A disability may be easily visible or invisible in nature.
Groan of the day: This topic is easy to see!
Sources: Disability
Short answer: It can make daily activities much harder
Invisible disabilities often significantly impair normal activities of daily living.
Groan of the day: Daily life can be a real challenge.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: They cannot read printed paper
A blind person cannot read printed paper ballots, so paper voting is not accessible to them.
Groan of the day: Paper ballots can be a real page-turner problem.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: The building has stairs but no ramp
A wheelchair user cannot ascend stairs, so buildings without ramps are not accessible.
Groan of the day: Stairs can be a step too far.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: A braille ballot or someone reading the ballot
Braille ballots or a person reading the ballot can give a blind voter access.
Groan of the day: That is an accommodating idea!
Sources: Disability
Short answer: Braille
Braille is listed as an example of assistive technology.
Groan of the day: Braille is a touch of genius.
Sources: Disability
Short answer: An accessible keyboard
Accessible keyboards are listed as assistive technology.
Groan of the day: That keyboard is key!
Sources: Disability
Short answer: Use a computer by speaking
Speech recognition software is listed as assistive technology that helps people use computers.
Groan of the day: Just say the word!
Sources: Disability
Short answer: It is a human rights concern
According to the social model, equal access for someone with an impairment is a human rights concern.
Groan of the day: Access is a right, not a maybe!
Sources: Disability
Short answer: A mind that interacts with social norms differently
Neurodivergent refers to a brain or mind that functions or interacts with social norms in a way that deviates from culturally normative expectations.
Groan of the day: Different brains, different paths!
Sources: Disability
Short answer: Stigma about neurobiological differences
The neurodiversity movement seeks to fight the stigma associated with seeing neurobiological differences as disorders or deficits.
Groan of the day: Stigma is not invited!
Sources: Disability
Short answer: Avoid using it
The UK government advises civil servants to avoid the term handicap.
Groan of the day: That word is off the table!
Sources: Disability
The whole guide on one screen. Screenshot it, print it, stick it on the fridge.
Think of your answer first, then peek.
A condition that makes activities or equal access harder. Disability is about difficulty doing activities or having fair access in society, not mood or skill.
Universal design that helps many people. Curb cuts are structural innovations of universal design that make access easier for all.
They see autism as part of their identity. Many autistic self-advocates see autism as an inherent part of identity, like other identities.
Accommodation features that may not be obvious. Scouts ask staff to explain accommodation features that may not be obvious.
They cannot read printed paper. A blind person cannot read printed paper ballots, so paper voting is not accessible to them.
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