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Activity 5 - Eden's story

Aim

To compare Mabel's life with the life of a young man in an institution today.

Curriculum area(s)

  • Year 7 upwards
    • PHSE
    • English
    • History
    • Tutor group

Suitable for adults with learning disabilities?

Yes

Learning outcome(s)

Students understand that some people continue to live in an institution today.

Time required

30 minutes (if students have already watched the film No Longer Shut Up)
45 minutes (if students need to watch the film No Longer Shut Up)

Resources

Activity

  1. Read Eden’s story to the group. Explain any words they do not understand.
  2. Ask students how Eden’s life is like Mabel’s.
  3. And how it is different.
  • Prompts:
    • Why they went into institutions.
    • What they do there.
    • Lack of freedom for both.
    • Eden shut away from other people in the Unit; Mabel shared her space with many others.
    • Eden has his own clothes; Mabel did not.
    • Eden has a family to visit him and fight for him to have a better life; Mabel did not.
    • Mabel does not mention drugs, but Eden is on a lot of drugs.
    • Do you think Eden’s life is better than Mabel’s? Or worse? Why?

Ideas for follow up

Imagine you are Eden. Write or draw a Facebook post to tell people about your life.

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Contact us

About the Group

If you woud like to get in touch with the Social History of Learning Disability (SHLD) Research Group, please contact:

Liz Tilley 
Chair of the Social History of Learning Disability (SHLD) Research Group
School of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care
Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies
The Open University
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA

About the website

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