01 Unable to Walk
/01 Unable to Walk
*Yulia is an energetic eleven-year-old girl who loved running around with her friends at school.
/*Yulia is an energetic eleven-year-old girl who loved running around with her friends at school.
But one day, she fell and injured her leg, and couldn’t walk for a while.
/But one day, she fell and injured her leg, and couldn’t walk for a while.
At school, she had to use a wheelchair, and *Yulia was filled with anxiety.
/At school, she had to use a wheelchair, and *Yulia was filled with anxiety.
When *Yulia went to school in a wheelchair for the first time, she was surprised.
/When *Yulia went to school in a wheelchair for the first time, she was surprised.
The hallways were narrow, and it was hard to move between desks in the classroom.
/The hallways were narrow, and it was hard to move between desks in the classroom.
Also, *Yulia’s school only had stairs and no elevator.
/Also, *Yulia’s school only had stairs and no elevator.
It was difficult to get to the playground for PE class, and *Yulia often couldn’t participate.
/It was difficult to get to the playground for PE class, and *Yulia often couldn’t participate.
“I didn’t know school was so inconvenient for people who can’t walk,” *Yulia thought sadly.
/“I didn’t know school was so inconvenient for people who can’t walk,” *Yulia thought sadly.
The next day, *Yulia’s friend Alex spoke to her.
/The next day, *Yulia’s friend Alex spoke to her.
“*Yulia, are you okay? I’ll help you today too!”
/“*Yulia, are you okay? I’ll help you today too!”
Alex suggested that everyone move the desks a little so *Yulia could pass through easily in her wheelchair.
/Alex suggested that everyone move the desks a little so *Yulia could pass through easily in her wheelchair.
Then the other friends helped rearrange the desks, and *Yulia was able to enter the classroom smoothly.
/Then the other friends helped rearrange the desks, and *Yulia was able to enter the classroom smoothly.
On the way home that day, *Yulia talked to her mother.
/On the way home that day, *Yulia talked to her mother.
“I wish we had an elevator at school because the stairs are hard for me,” she said.
/“I wish we had an elevator at school because the stairs are hard for me,” she said.
“But when I asked the teacher, they said there’s not enough budget to build one.”
/“But when I asked the teacher, they said there’s not enough budget to build one.”
Her mother nodded and replied,
/Her mother nodded and replied,
“That’s true. But it’s important that you talk about the difficulties you feel.
/“That’s true. But it’s important that you talk about the difficulties you feel.
To create a fair and just environment, we first need people to know about the problems.”
/To create a fair and just environment, we first need people to know about the problems.”
*Yulia thought, “If we all talk together, maybe we can make the school better.”
/*Yulia thought, “If we all talk together, maybe we can make the school better.”
The next day, she suggested to her teacher and friends,
/The next day, she suggested to her teacher and friends,
“I want to think about ways for people who can’t walk to enjoy school life too.”
/“I want to think about ways for people who can’t walk to enjoy school life too.”
As a result, a discussion began in the class inspired by *Yulia’s idea.
/As a result, a discussion began in the class inspired by *Yulia’s idea.
Everyone shared ideas like,
/Everyone shared ideas like,
“How about making a slope that wheelchairs can use if there’s no elevator?”
/“How about making a slope that wheelchairs can use if there’s no elevator?”
“And what if we come up with games for PE class that everyone can join?”
/“And what if we come up with games for PE class that everyone can join?”
Then, the whole school started planning small improvements to the environment.
/Then, the whole school started planning small improvements to the environment.
Even after *Yulia’s injury healed,
/Even after *Yulia’s injury healed,
the school continued using her ideas,
/the school continued using her ideas,
installing ramps and adding new rules to PE classes,
/installing ramps and adding new rules to PE classes,
creating a more fair environment.
/creating a more fair environment.
That night, *Yulia said to her mother,
/That night, *Yulia said to her mother,
“Thanks to everyone’s help, school has become a kinder place for everyone.
/“Thanks to everyone’s help, school has become a kinder place for everyone.
Fairness means noticing problems and solving them together.”
/Fairness means noticing problems and solving them together.”
Her mother smiled and said,
/Her mother smiled and said,
“That realization is very important.
/“That realization is very important.
Please don’t forget that feeling.”
/Please don’t forget that feeling.”
Multiple Choice Review Questions
/Multiple Choice Review Questions
What did Alex suggest to help *Yulia?
/What did Alex suggest to help *Yulia?
a. Move the desks a little to make it easier for her wheelchair to pass
/a. Move the desks a little to make it easier for her wheelchair to pass
b. Carry *Yulia’s bag for her
/b. Carry *Yulia’s bag for her
c. Attend class instead of *Yulia
/c. Attend class instead of *Yulia
What did *Yulia propose to her teacher and friends?
/What did *Yulia propose to her teacher and friends?
a. Think of ways for people who can’t walk to enjoy school life
/a. Think of ways for people who can’t walk to enjoy school life
b. Cancel PE classes
/b. Cancel PE classes
c. Use a special classroom just for herself
/c. Use a special classroom just for herself
Let’s Think!
/Let’s Think!
How do you think *Yulia felt when she said, “Fairness means noticing problems and solving them together”?
/How do you think *Yulia felt when she said, “Fairness means noticing problems and solving them together”?
What kind of problems might you notice at school, and how would you act?
/What kind of problems might you notice at school, and how would you act?
What good things can happen when we notice someone’s difficulties and take action like *Yulia did?
/What good things can happen when we notice someone’s difficulties and take action like *Yulia did?
What can you do to help make your surroundings more comfortable for everyone?
/What can you do to help make your surroundings more comfortable for everyone?
