Inclusive School Communities Essay - 4777 Words

Inclusive School Communities One of the most significant and controversial trends in education today is the inclusion of children and youth with disabilities into general education classrooms. Inclusion refers to the practice of educating all students regardless of disability in the same classroom as students without disabilities. Though the term is relatively new, the underlying principle is not, and reflects the belief that students with disabilities should be educated in the least restrictive environment (LRE), or as close to the mainstream of general education as possible. The LRE principle is one of the key components of federal special education law. Advocates of inclusion believe that in most cases, if not all, the LRE†¦show more content†¦Inclusion may actually have significant positive benefits for all students (Staub, 1995). Though it is unlikely that inclusion will enhance the development of academic skills in students without disabilities, there is evidence that inclusion may have other very substantial outcomes for students who engage in regular interaction with students who are disabled. Outcomes such as compassion, a better understanding of differences, and a stronger commitment to including those with disabilities in other areas of life are noted in the literature. Davern and Schnorr (1989) state the following in presenting these possible benefits. How does the presence of students with special needs affect other students at school? The majority of students in our public schools learn very powerful lessons when students with special needs are separated from them. Since they do not get to know these students well, they often come to believe that these children and young adults are different and scary, and should be separated from them. When students with differences are not in their classrooms, these classrooms do not reflect society and do not adequately prepare our children for the future. If we want graduates who welcome others-regardless of their learning, physical or emotional characteristics-as neighbors, coworkers and friends, daily shared experience among students will be essential (p.22). In this paper I will focus on the possibleShow MoreRelatedDeveloping A World Class Inclusive Education System Essay1476 Words   |  6 Pagesthe government intended to develop a world class inclusive education system. The model and aim at that stage was to reform the education system where children with disabilities could be integrated into the mainstream education system. This would enable children with disabilities to attend their local community schools where having the same opportunities as their siblings and friends from their community. In 1996 Lipsky Gartner described inclusive education as â€Å"students with disabilities having fullRead MoreEducational Policies For Inclusive Education1701 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"There is a direct correlation between the strength of inclusive education in schools and the values held by its leaders† (Porter AuCoin, 2012, p.146). The issue of inclusion is education is one that is surrounded by different ideological perspectives. In order to examine the policies surrounding inclusive education in Canada it is first necessary to understand the specific question at hand, who will be affected by the policy issue, as well as who has the power to make changes to this policyRead MoreSalamanca Statement1439 Words   |  6 PagesStatement (UNESCO, 1994) says: Regular schools with this inclusive orientation are the most effective means of combating discriminatory attitudes, creating welcoming communities, building inclusive society and achieving education for all; moreover, they provide an effective education to the majority of children and improve the efficiency and ultimately the cost effectiveness of the entire education system. (Quote from the Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education at: http://inclusion.uwe.ac.uk/csie/slmca/htm)Read MoreInclusive Education Essay1546 Words   |  7 Pagescontinuous debates. In the book Creating Inclusive Classrooms, J. Spencer Salend defines inclusion as : â€Å"[†¦] a philosophy that brings diverse students, families, educators and community members together to create schools and other social institutions based on acceptance, belonging and community [†¦] (Creating inclusive Classrooms, 2005, p.6) As a result, inclusive education considers as from a young age, all students as full members of the school community including students with different needsRead MoreWhat Are Ontario Schools Doing? Other Canadian Schools? Essay1297 Words   |  6 Pages What are Ontario schools doing? Other Canadian Schools doing? EGALE Canada Human Rights Trust, is Canada’s only national charity that advocates LGBT human rights in Canada. EGALE released in 2011 the First Report on the National Climate Survey on homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia in Canadian schools, that assessed the opinions of 3700 students (LGBT and non-LGBT) all over Canada (Taylor et al. 2011). The survey began in 2007 and concluded in 2009 (Taylor et al. 2011). The report’s resultsRead MoreHow Legislation and Policies Influence Education in Australia 1009 Words   |  5 Pagesand diverse country. Consequently schools are faced with many diverse students of different abilities and backgrounds. To ensure equity and fairness among students, policies and legislations have been put into place to ensure diversity is being catered for and that no student is being excluded from the education system. Some of these policies and legislation include: The Disability Discrimination Act 1992, The Salamanca Statement, Disability Stand ards 2005, Inclusive Education Statement, DisabilitiesRead MoreImproving Student Participation Is A Matter Of Importance1543 Words   |  7 Pagesequal right to use inclusive education from early childhood through to adulthood. Inclusive education means eliminating the distinction between special and regular education and giving equal opportunities despite their level of disability. It implies that providing educational facilities to students with additional educational needs which are used by most other students. The word inclusion is based on the idea that schools should satisfy the needs of the children in their communities, whatever the levelRead MoreSOcial and Economic Development: Inclusion and Inclusive Education1133 Words   |  5 PagesEducation is the most important factor in any country’s social and economic development. It builds human capital by producing informed and productive citizens. Education creates opportunities for marginalized and socioeconomically d isadvantaged communities to become better adjusted and productive citizens. People with disabilities are still at a severe disadvantage in terms of accessing education in many parts of the world, especially in Pakistan. World Health Organization (WHO, 1981) indicates thatRead MoreMy Experience As A Primary Teacher839 Words   |  4 Pagesprimary teacher for five years in British Schools, I realized that as a teacher, I need to include all the students with diverse abilities and to meet their learning needs. At the beginning, I found it challenging to practice the inclusive education strategy in my classroom, so I started to read more about the definition of inclusion and the factors that affect the teachers’ practical experience. Later, I was inspired by the relation between the inclusive education and the Australian Curriculum. TheRead MoreInclusive Classrooms For Students With Disabilities875 Words   |  4 PagesInclusive classrooms attempt to recognize and respond to the numerous sorts of differences that children take to the classroom. In conve ntional classrooms, these distinctions may prompt children being demoted to varied reading or math groups, or being distinguished as learning disabled or gifted. In the current educational atmosphere, educators need support as they attempt to meet all children s individual needs while as yet keeping up elevated expectations and an interconnected classroom group