Inclusion is to make the individual the centre of their life, they are actively involved and supported in all aspects to live a full life. Examples of inclusive practice are: A resident from the Jewish community wishes to celebrate the Jewish festivals and partake in the religious aspects. The home approached the local synagogue and spoke to the rabbi. Arrangements were made for members of the Jewish congregation to visit the resident. Festivals were celebrated in the whole home and when able to resident would attend the synagogue accompanied with a care support worker. A male care worker complained to the manager that he was always expected to take the heavy rubbish bins out when he was on shift because he was a man. He said that he suffers
If one looks at the word “Inclusion”, its definition states that the word means being part of something or the feeling of being part of a whole. By looking at this term, one gets a sense of what inclusion education is all about (Karten p. 2). Inclusion education is the mainstreaming of Special Education students into a regular classroom (Harchik). A school that involves inclusive education makes a commitment to educate each and every student to their highest potential by whatever means necessary (Stout). Their goal is for all children, disabled or not, to be able to attend a typical classroom.
According to Stout (2001) the concept of inclusion can be differentiated into mainstreaming, inclusion and full inclusion each describing the amount of time special education students become part of a normal education classes. “Inclusion is a term which expresses the commitment to educate each child, to the maximum extent possible, in the school and classroom he or she would otherwise attend” (definitions section, para. 2). This commitment is based on the belief that special needs students would profit from the regular classroom environment (Noll, 2014, p. 225). According to Stout (2001) research based evidence supports this belief as “Recent meta-analyses confirm a small to moderate beneficial effect of inclusion education on the academic and social outcome of special needs students” (Research section, para. 3). There are many who also believe that inclusion is good for the overall class as it can teach empathy, and “teaches us to think about we rather than I” (Sapon-Shevin, 2008, p227). There are others however, who feel that “Contrary to some egalitarians, a good society honors those who through intelligent good will, artistic talent, athletic prowess, or plain honest hard work make our lives better” (Carpenter, 2008, p.235) and therefore believe that it is ok to think of “I” and not we.
What is inclusion? Inclusion learning is the idea that regardless of a child’s disability they are considered access to a regular education setting that will provide the learning aides needed for that child to learn successfully. The debate of inclusion learning has been on the table for many years. According to the U.S. Department of Education's report to congress in the 2006 school year there were 701,949 children between the ages of three and five years old being served for special needs under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA)(17). The IDEA was introduced in 1997 as an amendment to the 1975 Education for All Handicapped Children Act. This amendment was to “to ensure free and appropriate education for children of all learning and physical disabilities in the least restricted environment” (Individuals with DisabilitiesEducation Act Amendments of 1997). One of the purposes of the IDEA law was “...
The implementation of policy and legislation related to inclusive education, thus being a focus on the diversity and difference in our society (Ashman & Elkins, 2009), would have vast implications on the way society views that which is different to the accepted “norm”.
In order for inclusion to be implemented properly it is important that teachers, parents, and administrators to know the definition of inclusion. An inclusion program means that the student spends all or most of their school time in the general education classroom rather than a self-contained classroom. However, the students will still receive the support and interventions they would have received in a self-contained classroom. There are different types of inclusive classrooms where different types of teaching occur. There is co-teaching where there is both a general education teacher and a special education teacher that co teach. Both will work with students that have an individualized education plan (IEP) and the student will receive more support. In addition, an inclusive classroom can have a general education teacher but has the special education teacher as a resource or aid, which qualifies as a collaborative model of inclusion.
When I first entered the classroom I noticed how different this elementary school was from my own. It is the only other elementary school I have been in other than the one I attended. This allowed me to get a better understanding on how every school is unique and different from the next. When I first met Joel I noticed how happy and talkative he is. Right away we had a conversation and he never wanted to stop talking. While we would try to read he would get easily distracted, but not because he did not know the words more since he could not stay focused. I realized this is because he is a kindergartener and has not had too much experience with reading on his own. I can tell that he will be able to get into reading once he focuses more on the
The word inclusion represents a famous quote from Lilo and Stitch: “Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.” Similar to Lilo’s relationship to Stitch, inclusion is being there for someone who does not fit in, can be socially anxious or extroverted to a point that may seem out-of-place. In the case of Stitch’s inclusion into Lilo’s life, Lilo had seen a “dog” that everyone was afraid of, knowing she had not fit in with children her age. It became her goal to make friends with him and help him adjust to life on earth, adopting him into her family. Inclusion is just that, adding someone to your group of friends, discussions, and activities.
Full inclusion is like communism. It looks good on paper and may even sound good, but does not actually work to benefit all involved. Full inclusion is the idea of including every student with a disability, regardless of severity, into the general classroom. While it sounds like a great idea, it would not benefit every student with disabilities, every time and could hinder the education of non-disabled students. Full inclusion is not feasible for all students with disabilities.
Inclusion occurs when “children with disabilities are educated with children who are not disabled.” This means that children with disabilities are able to participate inside and outside of the classroom in all academic and nonacademic programs and activities with nondisabled children. My position on inclusion is positive, and I fully support the practice. I believe that regardless of who you are you should be given equal opportunities. I also think that nondisabled children can learn from children with disabilities, and vice versa. It is important to implement inclusion because all children deserve fair treatment and they can all learn something from the experience.
Inclusion in classrooms is defined as combining students with disabilities and students without disabilities together in an educational environment. It provides all students with a better sense of belonging. They will enable friendships and evolve feelings of being a member of a diverse community (Bronson, 1999). Inclusion benefits students without disabilities by developing a sense of helping others and respecting other diverse people. By this, the students will build up an appreciation that everyone has unique yet wonderful abilities and personalities (Bronson, 1999). This will enhance their communication skills later in life. Inclusive classrooms provide students with disabilities a better education on the same level as their peers. Since all students would be in the same educational environment, they would follow the same curriculum and not separate ones based on their disability. The main element to a successful inclusive classroom, is the teachers effort to plan the curriculum to fit all students needs. Teachers must make sure that they are making the material challenging enough for students without special needs and understandable to students with special needs. Inclusive classrooms are beneficial to students with and without special needs.
Inclusion is about ensuring that the rights of all children are met, so that they can actively engage in education within their community. Uditsky (1993) extends on this sentiment, noting the importance that students with additional needs are a welcomed and valued member within the setting. In order for children’s rights to be met, the setting must ensure that the child with additional needs has equal access to all things that their peers have access to.... ... middle of paper ... ...
Those who support an inclusion model for all students take the stand that students with disabilities should be placed in and inclusion setting with the idea that all special education students will benefit from an inclusion setting with their general education peers. An inclusion setting will provide academic growth and social growth. The placement of special education students in a general education classroom would also benefit students to respect and accept those students who are different. Students should be placed in an inclusion setting whenever possible (Noll, 2013).
Inclusion is the main issue within the inclusive learning environment, if a child doesn’t feel included within their environment then their learning will be effected by this. The Oxford English Dictionary defines inclusion as “the action or state of including or of being included within a group or structure” (Oxford English Dictionary 2011: Inclusion) This means that every child should feel involved and included, no matter of there different learning abilities or levels. This can mean children who have special educational needs, such as dyslexia, physical disability or metal disability. Inclusion should provide opportunities for all children, no matter of their age, race, gender, disability, religion, ability or their background, to be involved within their learning environment. Each child should feel like they belong and feel like they are...
My definition of inclusion is “that equality and equity is the right of every student no matter what the barriers exist to meaningful learning. All barriers require removal to allow access, for all, to the Australian curriculum content irrespective of the structural or economic adjustments that this necessitates. Inclusion does not necessarily provide guaranteed outcomes but is grounded on the concept of equal opportunity for all.”
Inclusion does not only benefit the student, but the parents, teachers, school and the community. It is about understanding additional needs rather than ignoring them and allowing the student every chance that students without difficulties/disabilities have available to them