What is Inclusion?

What is Inclusion?

• "Inclusion is being part of what everyone else is, being welcomed and embraced as a member who belongs" (Tomko, C. (1996). What is Inclusion? Kids Together, Inc. Retrieved from http://kidstogether.org/inclusion.htm)
• Inclusion is allowing everyone to participate and be a part of a community no matter what their abilities or differences are.
• Adaptations are made to help ALL students achieve in the classroom.
• Not just a placement, but a positive change in the classroom dynamic.
• It fosters different skills, such as caring, understanding, negotiation, sharing, and intelligence.
  
  
  
  
  
  Inclusion for All
  
  
  The video below provides a great example of what inclusion is in a preschool classroom.
   
   

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

Benefits of Inclusion

Benefits of Inclusion

When inclusion is done appropriately and all parties involved are truly committed to making it a success, both students with and without disabilities can benefit. Inclusion:

• Helps build meaningful friendships.
• Provides peer role models in academic, social, and behavioral areas.
• Increases acceptance of individuals with special needs.
• Increases collaboration between teachers as well as with parents. 
• Prepares ALL students for adult life in an inclusive society.
• Increases the achievement of Individualized Education Plan goals.
• Provides a higher standard for all students.
• Provides students with opportunities to teach and learn from one another.
• Increases social interactions between students.
• Creates a need for teachers to branch out and improve their skills.
• Creates a need for different methods of instruction which will benefit students with and without special needs.

How to Make Inclusion Successful

What Makes Inclusion Successful? 

"Inclusion is an educational philosophy." (Webster, J.)

The success of an inclusive classroom depends on many different factors that all correlate with one another. Educators in an inclusive classroom must be fully committed to assisting all students reach their own levels of achievement. Educators need to constantly be evaluating their teaching skills and improving upon them to best suit the needs of the students. 

Some factors to making inclusion successful are:

• Vision & Attitude
• Determination
• Collaboration & Planning time
• Leadership
• Respect
• Support systems
• Constantly improving and learning next things

Bunch, G. (2005) 10 Keys to Successful Inclusion. Marsha Forest Centre. Delhi, India. 
 
Webster, J. Inclusion- What is Inclusion? About.com. Retrieved from http://specialed.about.com/od/integration/a/Inclusion-What-Is-Inclusion.htm

Parent & Teacher Resources

Parent and Teacher Resources

Here are some great websites with information regarding inclusion that I feel would be helpful for parents as well as educators.

• An article about what inclusion is
• Information regarding what inclusion is
• Benefits of inclusion
• Legal issues 
• How to get involved and promote inclusion
• Posters and pictures
• List of articles about inclusion and related topics 
• Resources and materials regarding inclusion
  
  

Sources

Bunch, G. (2005) 10 Keys to Successful Inclusion. Marsha Forest Centre. Delhi, India. 

Tomko, C. (1996). What is Inclusion? Kids Together, Inc. Retrieved from http://kidstogether.org/inclusion.htm
 
Webster, J. Inclusion- What is Inclusion? About.com. Retrieved from http://specialed.about.com/od/integration/a/Inclusion-What-Is-Inclusion.htm