Inclusion Shouldn’t be a Fight

It’s hard to believe that the first few weeks of school are gone already!

Most of the calls our office receives at this time of the year are related to a school’s failure to successfully include students in general education classrooms (even if it’s on the IEP). There are a variety of reasons why this happens, and every school and situation are unique, but we do know that the research FOR inclusion far exceeds research FOR separate classrooms.

What’s All the Talk about Inclusion???

While it may not feel like it, schools are supposed to look at every child as a regular education student, until such time that they’ve exhausted all efforts and determined that the student needs more than what could be provided within a regular education classroom setting before considering a move to special ed (or special program classrooms, clusters or separate settings in middle and high school).

I find myself having to remind all levels of school board staff that students are not required to ‘earn’ their way into regular education. They’re given special education services to meet their unique needs.

In the Beginning

Special education, at its inception, came out of what we refer to as the medical model. This model tells us that we should:
– Remove the person
– Diagnose the person
– Fix the person
– When they’re ‘ready’, they get to go back to society (ie; after your leg is healed and you get to go home from the hospital)

Think of it this way… corn is a vegetable that we use in a variety of ways. Corn needs a heavy dose of nitrogen to grow to its best potential. If we want corn, we don’t try to change what it is so that it doesn’t need nitrogen anymore. We add nitrogen to the soil so that it will grow along with all the other vegetables in our garden. Nitrogen is good for all plants.

When we remove students and we group them separately, the negative side effects can far exceed any potential benefits (which there may be none). If you have a child who spends their day in a special education classroom, or program, think about the last time that they made meaningful progress. Was it over the last year? Was it over the last three years? How about the last five years? I read IEP‘s every day that are basically the same as they were the year before, and oftentimes when I go back even further, the academic levels of the student have hardly changed at all.  I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but you simply cannot send your child to school and not monitor their progress. If you count on the school to do all the monitoring, you are likely to end up with dismal results. Why do you think that private advocates make so much money? It’s not because they’re busy looking for work.

There ARE Resources

Here’s some helpful information from Kids Included Together that I find helpful and hope you will too:

The Importance of Inclusion
Inclusion in child development and learning is not just a moral or ethical imperative; it is a practical necessity that enriches the learning environment for all participants. Inclusive programs accommodate the diverse needs of students. This includes those with disabilities, from various socio-economic backgrounds, and of different ethnicities and cultures. The benefits of an inclusive approach are multifaceted:

• Promotes Equity and Respect: Inclusion teaches children the values of equity, respect, and dignity from an early age, laying the foundation for a more inclusive society.
• Supports Individual Needs: Inclusion recognizes that children learn differently and at different paces, facilitating a personalized approach to education that meets the needs of each child.
• Enhances Social Skills: Children in inclusive settings learn to interact with diverse peers, improving their social and communication skills.
• Boosts Self-Esteem and Belonging: Inclusion helps all children feel valued and part of a community, which is essential for building self-esteem and a sense of belonging.

Implementing Inclusion

Implementing inclusion effectively requires a shift in mindset, curriculum adaptation, and professional development for staff and educators. It involves:

• Differentiated Instruction: Tailoring instruction strategies to meet diverse learner needs
• Collaborative Teaching: Teachers and staff work alongside one another to support all students
• Support Services: Linking to resources like speech therapy or counseling

Why Training Is Crucial

Creating truly inclusive environments demands more than a positive outlook and a willingness to engage; it requires concrete actions. Inclusive training provides staff and volunteers with tools and skills to ensure all children are included.

Critical areas where training is essential include:

• Understanding Diversity and Inclusion: Training helps educators grasp the full spectrum of diversity, including but not limited to physical, cognitive, cultural, and socio-economic diversity.
• Strategies for Inclusive Programs: Effective training provides educators with a toolkit of techniques to accommodate diverse learning needs and styles. This ensures all students can participate fully and benefit from the program.
• Behavior Support: Inclusive programs require nuanced approaches to behavior support that respect individual needs while maintaining a positive, supportive environment.
• Communication and Collaboration: Training enhances educators’ ability to communicate effectively with children, youth, parents, and other stakeholders. This fosters collaboration to support each child’s success.

 
Inclusion Benefits Society

Inclusion enriches society by fostering a culture of respect, empathy, and understanding across diverse groups. Therefore, an environment where everyone can contribute to and participate in all aspects of society regardless of their background, abilities, or beliefs is created.
An inclusive approach leverages all members’ unique perspectives and skills, driving innovation, enhancing creativity, and solving complex problems more effectively. It also strengthens social cohesion, reducing prejudices and conflicts, and building more equitable and just communities. By valuing and embracing diversity, inclusion ultimately leads to a more vibrant, dynamic, and resilient community.


For those who live in Florida, we have the Florida Inclusion Network that provides training at no cost to public schools. Contact them today if you feel like your teacher could use a refresher on what inclusive education is, what it means to you, and what impact it can have on ALL students in your school.

Florida Inclusion Network

When we are all included, we all benefit!

Warmest wishes for a wonderful school year,
Stacey