The Importance Of Inclusive Education

Inclusive learning can be described as an integrated form of learning where learners with special needs are thought with those without special needs. According to Nind et al: “Education and educational provision is shared by both normal’ pupils and those with a disability, at the expense of differences in the specific nature of each child or young person and her/his particular strengths and areas of weakness, and consequences that these differences have in terms of educational needs.”[1] This means that the aim of inclusive practice is to create a neutral learning environment. It should be noted that that every learner will have different needs and

Schools most frequently use them for selected students with mild to severe special needs. Inclusive education differs from previously held notions of 'integration' and 'mainstreaming', which tended to be concerned principally with disability and 'special educational needs' and implied learners changing or becoming 'ready for' or deserving of accommodation by the mainstream. By contrast, inclusion is about

In a contemporary Australian school setting, inclusion is the ongoing collaboration of all members of the school community to effectively meet the diverse needs of all students, including those with additional needs (Blackmore, 2009; Lyons, 2014). All students regardless of their cultural background or ability level should experience an enriching education where they feel included and supported. Creating inclusive cultures, producing inclusive policies and evolving inclusive practices are the best ways to promote learning and participation in schools for all students (Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education, 2012; Dempsey, 2014).

Sri Lanka has accepted inclusive education as a policy which shows different education reforms. Education reforms in 1997 supported the philosophy and practice of Inclusive Education. According to the concept of inclusive education, the responsibility of addressing the needs of all children has to be taken by regular education teachers. But the issues of addressing the diversity in the class room has not been addressed in teacher education programmes which develops a large number of teachers come into the education system. Spratt (2013) pointed out that teachers are not sufficiently prepared to address the student differences in school which is relevant to the Sri Lankan context. Alwis, (2000) and NEC (2003) highlight that there are no special strategies designed for the students with special needs in mainstream schools and classes and that therefore teachers in Sri Lanka are unable to cater to the requirements of children with special needs. However teachers cannot address issues related to diversity with the knowledge that they posses and the consequences will ultimately go to the children with special needs who are included in the regular class rooms. If teachers are equipped well, it may influence them to address the needs of children with special educational needs. According to Booth et al (2003) the way the teachers are empowered

Inclusive practice in education moves us away from ‘integration’ and ‘mainstreaming’ of learners, which was mainly concerned with separating those with a disability or ‘special educational needs’ until they had reached the required standard for mainstream education. Inclusion is about the learner’s right to participate and the teacher/ institutions duty to accept the learner as an individual. Inclusion rejects the separation of learners with disabilities from learners without disabilities; instead it promotes equality and respect for their social, civil, human and educational rights. From what I can see there are few totally inclusive schools but those that are, restructure their curriculum so all can learn

When setting up an inclusive learning environment we need to focus on individual differences. Francis and Gould (2013: p65) explain, that “it is important to recognise the differences in the learners we teach, as these influence how we interact with them.” Francis and Gould (2013) list few typical differences, like age, physical disability, mental health issues, ethnicity, etc.

Inclusion can be defined as the act of being present at regular education classes with the support and services needed to successfully achieve educational goals. Inclusion in the scholastic environment benefits both the disabled student and the non-disabled student in obtaining better life skills. By including all students as much as possible in general or regular education classes all students can learn to work cooperatively, learn to work with different kinds of people, and learn how to help people in tasks. “As Stainback, Stainback, East, and Sapon-Shevin (1994) have noted, ‘...the goal of inclusion in schools is to create a world in which all people are knowledgeable about and supportive of all other

Other barriers to inclusive education which some teachers face are lack of time, large classes, lack of modified instructional materials, lack of teacher aides or assistant teachers and lack of access to technology such as internet and laptops which can be particularly beneficial to students with dyslexia.

Salend describes four principles of effective inclusion in Chapter 1 of Creating Inclusive Classrooms: Effective and Reflective Practices. Using Salend’s four principals, I would like to reflect on my experiences and discuss the benefits of inclusive education. The first principle states the importance of providing all learners equal access. The ASD Nest Program model strives to create, within a grade-appropriate academic framework, a therapeutic environment in which the requisite supports are provided by a transdisciplinary team of specially trained educators and therapists. Essential to the success of the program are a variety of strategies and classroom modifications designed to meet the specific needs of students with

Through my theoretical and small practical understanding of inclusive education I will be embracing the concept and practice of inclusion through the use of the term Curriculum Differentiation, which is all about arranging the classroom learning environment to be more suitable for students of all types, abilities and learning capacities to have the chance to reach their own individual maximum potentials (Carpenter, 2010). Through researching and learning about inclusion I have come to believe and agree with the statement of “Diversity not Deficit” when teaching in an inclusive school or classroom (Queensland Government, 2005). This statement reflects my own personal philosophy of inclusive education, as it pushes my strong belief that education is about not seeing any of the students, their families or the

For years children with special needs were ushered off to separate classes and schools. Children with special needs have the right to attend classes with their same aged peers in the same classroom with support. Students with special needs deserve the same opportunities they would have if circumstances were different. Inclusion gives those students with special needs the chance to be part of the community; able to form relationships outside of the family unit. All students benefit from inclusion; students with disabilities develop social skills and develop friendships while non-disabled students learn tolerance and acceptance.

In first being able to define inclusive education, it is necessary to understand the diversity of the student population. Disability comes in my varying forms and can be physical, sensory, intellectual, mental health and emotional, developmental, and non-visible (e.g. asthma). If disability was the only agent to consider in the diversity scenario things would be easier for teachers but there are a number of other classifications of students to consider: Gifted or talented; English as a second language (ESL); Indigenous students; and many other classifications which fall under the societal/family/personal heading (Ashman & Elkin, 2012).

Inclusive education is concerned with the education and accommodation of ALL children in society, regardless of their physical, intellectual, social, or linguistic deficits. Inclusion should also include children from disadvantaged groups, of all races and cultures as well as the gifted and the disabled (UNESCO, 2003). Inclusion tries to reduce exclusion within the education system by tackling, responding to and meeting the different needs of all learners (Booth, 1996). It involves changing the education system so that it can accommodate the unique styles and way of learning of each learner and ensure that there is quality education for all through the use of proper resources, suitable curricula, appropriate

Every child has the ability to learn, but the way a child learns and processes knowledge can be very different, especially for a child with special needs. (Mainstreaming Special Education in the Classroom) As a society we owe all children the chance to reach their full potential, thus we must set up an environment where this accessible. Integrated education unarguably allows the must vulnerable and excluded children this chance. According to Inclusiveschools.org, “Inclusion” does not simply mean placing students with physical or mental disability in general mainstream classrooms, but rather offers fundamental change to school community and how children learn altogether. Effective models of inclusive education according to various sources, is the right model of education for special needs students because it allows greater access to mainstream curriculum, preparation for integration in an inclusive society, and promotes a tolerant and inclusive society. (Full inclusion: Has its time arrived?, The Benefits of inclusive Education.)

disabilities, abilities and capabilities in an inclusive setting. According to Villamero (2015) said that Negros Oriental is now envisions the teachers and