Lesson Plan
Ability Unleashed Lesson Plan
Students will recognize and celebrate the achievements of entrepreneurs with disabilities, identifying the transferable skills and innovative approaches they employ.
To challenge preconceived notions about disability and entrepreneurship, inspiring students to see potential in all individuals and fostering a more inclusive and innovative mindset.
Audience
12th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Case study analysis and guided discussion.
Materials
Ability Unleashed Slide Deck, Warm-Up Activity, Entrepreneur Profiles Reading, Discussion Prompts, and Cool-Down Reflection
Prep
Review Materials
15 minutes
- Review the Ability Unleashed Lesson Plan, Ability Unleashed Slide Deck, Warm-Up Activity, Entrepreneur Profiles Reading, Discussion Prompts, and Cool-Down Reflection.
- Ensure projector/screen is set up and working for the slide deck.
- Make copies of the Entrepreneur Profiles Reading if students will read physical copies, or ensure digital access is ready.
Step 1
Warm-Up & Hook
5 minutes
Begin the lesson with the Warm-Up Activity to get students thinking about entrepreneurship and problem-solving. Facilitate a brief class share-out.
Step 2
Introduction & Setting the Stage
5 minutes
Use slides 1-3 from the Ability Unleashed Slide Deck to introduce the concept of entrepreneurship and the focus of the lesson: individuals with diverse abilities who are also successful entrepreneurs. Emphasize that diverse abilities can be a source of unique perspectives and strengths.
Step 3
Entrepreneurial Journeys: Case Studies
10 minutes
Distribute or provide digital access to the Entrepreneur Profiles Reading. Students can read these individually or in small groups. As students read, use slides 4-6 from the Ability Unleashed Slide Deck to highlight the key entrepreneurs and their businesses, drawing attention to their innovations and how they leveraged their unique experiences.
Step 4
Discussion & Reflection
8 minutes
Facilitate a class discussion using the Discussion Prompts. Encourage students to share their insights, discuss the common traits of success they observed, and how these stories impact their understanding of entrepreneurship and ability.
Step 5
Cool-Down
2 minutes
Conclude the lesson with the Cool-Down Reflection as an exit ticket. Collect responses to gauge student learning and reflection.
Slide Deck
Ability Unleashed: Entrepreneurs
Exploring Innovation and Impact Beyond Barriers
What does it mean to be an entrepreneur?
Welcome students to class. Introduce today's theme: exploring entrepreneurs who have excelled despite, or even because of, their unique abilities. Ask students: 'What comes to mind when you hear the word entrepreneur?'
What is an Entrepreneur?
A person who organizes and operates a business, taking on greater than normal financial risks in order to do so.
Key Traits:
- Innovation
- Problem-Solving
- Resilience
- Vision
- Adaptability
Guide students to think about the core meaning of entrepreneurship. Emphasize that it's not just about money, but about solving problems, creating value, and often, taking risks. Ask: 'What qualities do you think a successful entrepreneur needs?'
Breaking Barriers, Building Businesses
Today, we'll explore the incredible journeys of entrepreneurs who thrive with diverse abilities.
How might having a unique perspective lead to new business ideas?
Transition to the main focus of the lesson. Explain that today, we're specifically looking at how diverse abilities can lead to unique perspectives and innovative solutions in the business world. Challenge any preconceived notions.
Meet Haben Girma: Advocate & Author
Haben Girma is a Deafblind American lawyer, author, and disability rights advocate. She is the first Deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School.
Her Vision: To fight for better access to information and technology for people with disabilities, transforming perceptions through her speaking and writing.
Impact: Inspires organizations worldwide to embrace inclusive design.
Introduce Haben Girma. Highlight her advocacy work and her innovative approach to accessibility. Emphasize that her lived experience directly informed her mission. Ask: 'How did her personal experience shape her entrepreneurial path?'
Meet Bethany Hamilton: Pro Surfer & Speaker
Bethany Hamilton is an American professional surfer who survived a shark attack in which she lost her left arm.
Her Vision: To inspire others through her story of resilience, faith, and determination. She continues to surf professionally and share her message globally through motivational speaking and media projects.
Impact: Demonstrates that physical challenges don't define limits.
Introduce Bethany Hamilton. While not a 'traditional' disability, losing her arm presented significant challenges that she overcame with entrepreneurial spirit in sports and public speaking. Focus on her resilience and how she turned a challenge into a platform. Ask: 'What kind of 'problem' did Bethany solve for herself and others?'
Common Threads of Success
What qualities did Haben and Bethany exemplify?
- Vision: Seeing a need or a better way.
- Adaptability: Adjusting to challenges and finding new solutions.
- Perseverance: Not giving up in the face of obstacles.
- Problem-Solving: Creating innovative solutions.
- Community Focus: Often, their businesses benefit others.
Summarize the key takeaways from the case studies. Reiterate that these traits are universal for success but are often powerfully demonstrated by individuals overcoming unique obstacles. Prompt students to connect these traits to the entrepreneurs they just learned about.
Your Turn to Discuss!
In small groups or as a class, discuss:
- How do these stories challenge or expand your view of entrepreneurship?
- What qualities did Haben Girma and Bethany Hamilton demonstrate that you find most inspiring?
- How can businesses be more inclusive and accessible?
Transition to the discussion activity. Remind students to refer back to the readings and their own thoughts. Encourage respectful and thoughtful dialogue.
Reflect & Grow
What is one new idea or insight you gained today about entrepreneurship or diverse abilities?
Prepare for your Cool-Down Reflection!
Prepare students for the cool-down activity. Explain it's a quick reflection to solidify their learning.
Warm Up
Entrepreneurial Sparks
Imagine you have an amazing idea for a business. What's the first problem you'd want your business to solve, and why?
Reading
Entrepreneur Profiles: Ability Unleashed
Haben Girma: Advocate for Digital Accessibility
Haben Girma is a Deafblind American lawyer, author, and disability rights advocate. She holds the distinction of being the first Deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School. Growing up, Haben navigated a world not built for her, inspiring her passion for advocating for better access to information and technology for people with disabilities. Rather than viewing her Deafblindness as a limitation, she sees it as a unique vantage point, enabling her to innovate and champion inclusive design.
Through her work, speaking engagements, and best-selling book, "Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law," she advises organizations worldwide on the importance of creating accessible products and services. Her entrepreneurial spirit lies in identifying a universal problem (lack of accessibility) and creating solutions through advocacy, education, and consultation, transforming how businesses approach inclusivity.
Bethany Hamilton: Surfer, Speaker, and Survivor
Bethany Hamilton is an American professional surfer who, at the age of 13, survived a shark attack in which she lost her left arm. Despite this life-altering event, Bethany returned to surfing just one month later. Her story of resilience, faith, and determination quickly captured international attention.
While her primary profession remains surfing, Bethany has leveraged her powerful story into a successful entrepreneurial venture as a motivational speaker, author, and media personality. She has written several books, been the subject of documentaries and feature films, and travels the world sharing her message of hope and perseverance. Her "business" is built on inspiring others to overcome their own challenges, demonstrating that physical challenges don't define limits and that one's spirit can triumph over adversity. She has built a brand around her values and experiences, turning a personal tragedy into a source of inspiration and income.
Discussion
Class Discussion: Insights and Impact
Use these questions to guide your small group or whole-class discussion:
- Before today, what were your assumptions about who could be an entrepreneur? How have the stories of Haben Girma and Bethany Hamilton challenged or expanded those views?
- Haben Girma used her unique experience to identify a problem (lack of digital accessibility) and create solutions. Can you think of other ways a unique perspective or a personal challenge could lead to an innovative business idea?
- Both Haben and Bethany exemplify incredible resilience and adaptability. How important are these qualities for any entrepreneur, regardless of their background?
- How can businesses and communities do a better job of supporting and including entrepreneurs with diverse abilities?
Cool Down
Exit Ticket: Reflect and Connect
What is one new idea or insight you gained today about entrepreneurship or the power of diverse abilities? How might this insight influence your own goals or perceptions in the future?