1.0 Introduction In Australia, educators and schools must accept all children as they have the right to learn alongside same age peers within a mainstream education, no matter their diversity. Inclusive schooling supports all children with disabilities and learning disorders and allows children to learn. Inclusive education recognises and complies with a range of different government acts. These include Equal Opportunity Act (1984) and Disability Discrimination Act (1992), which protect the rights of all children. In 1970 students with disabilities began to attend mainstream education as researched proved that having children with special needs segregated was not how they deserve to be educated as they have the same rights as every other student (Konza, 2008, p.39). A series of documents and policies were put in place, offering students with disabilities the education they were entitled to and making inclusive education a part of Australian education. These documents include the National Disability Strategy, the National Quality Framework, the Early Years Learning Framework of Australia, the Australian Curriculum, and the Australian Professional Standards for Educators. This report looks at these policies and different services, which have been implemented in Western Australia. This report builds an awareness of the views the community, parents and educators of children with special needs have on inclusive education and what recommendations educators can implement in
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
Schools have legal obligations to give students with a disability opportunities and choices comparable to those without a disability through the Disability Discrimination Act of 1992 and the Disability Standards of Education 2005 (Department of Education and Training, n.d). To meet these standards, schools must be welcoming and reasonably accommodate for new students. We used the three phase inclusion process when Amir transferred to our school at the start of the year. The three flowing phases; preparation, transition and consolidation help all stakeholders inclusively plan for the best possible transition of a new child where their needs are provided for (Lyons, 2014, pg 80). Inclusive schools help support all students, teachers should work closely with the learning support team at their school to help them decide the best resources and strategies to meet students’ needs and promote their wellbeing (Lyons, 2014, pg 83). Amir has consultations with all relevant stakeholders at the start of the term to set learning goals and then at the end of the term to reflect on his achievements and what could be improved on. All teachers need to use their professional judgement and act ethically as their work significantly impacts the future of the learners in their class (Churchill, & Keddie, 2013, pg 539). Amir’s school promotes diversity and is strongly against bullying. At the start of each year we
Students with special needs need deserve the same education general education students are presented with. The philosophy of “ Disability Inclusion” concentrates on creating a safe, loving, and effective learning environment for students who suffer from physical, learning, and behavioral disabilities. When a student with disabilities is placed in the same environment as a non-disabled student, the results show wonderful improvement. When we are able to discover the strength of the student we are able to see just how much the student can improve in an inclusion classroom. Disability Inclusion not only sets a new beginning for an equal education of special education students, but it allows for more interaction with the child, and a more hands-on assessment.
In ‘Promoting Inclusive Practice’ (Florian, 1998) there was a suggestion that teachers need knowledge about children’s learning difficulties and need to be skilled in using specific teaching strategies. Practice and provision needs to be developed and adapted: a new school ethos and commitment to inclusion, an effective learning environment, effective communication, teacher knowledge and modification and personalised curriculum. Lipsky and Gartner’s (1998) inclusion model emphasises visionary leadership, effective parental involvement, staff and pupil support, a flexible curriculum and effective instructional practices. The Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED, 2006) examined the factors that promote good outcomes. It found effective provision was equal between mainstream and special schools when particular elements in place. However, more good or outstanding provision existed in well-resourced mainstream
The purpose behind this report is to analyse inclusive practice within an early years setting of a child with a special educational needs (SEN). This is done through a case study. In order to establish whether inclusion is being taken into consideration and put into place, theoretical views, legislation and appropriate intervention methods will be discussed in this report. There is sufficient evidence being drawn upon as how the setting provides equal access to the curriculum for the child. The report will consider strategies that are in place to promote and factors that hinder inclusive educational practice.
In 1994, representatives of 92 governments and 25 international organizations formed the World Conference on Special Needs Education and called on the international community to endorse the concept of change and inclusion through a new statement called ‘The Salamanca Statement’. As this was the first major international statement of what an inclusive approach to education needs to be, they formed practical strategies to ensure this positive inclusion would take place worldwide.
During the ten years that I have worked in primary education inclusivity has played an increasingly important part when considering how the curriculum can be delivered and how a classroom can be managed to ensure that it is accessed by all children. Experience of working within a primary classroom has shown that the accommodation of students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and the delivery of inclusive lessons have had a vital part to play when determining classroom
There are millions of children that are passing through the United States school system every day, not all children possess the same traits, and not all children can learn at the same rate, and do not perform at the same ability. The fact that all children learn differently and some have difficulties learning in general classrooms, special education was put into place to try and take care of these issues. Special education programs were put into place to help all students with disabilities. These children range from general disabilities to more complex and severe disabilities. There has been a revolution occurring in the past several years with education systems, and special education. There have now been several laws that have been
The importance of education for all children, especially for those with disability and with limited social and economic opportunities, is indisputable. Indeed, the special education system allowed children with disability increased access to public education. Apart from that, the special education system has provided for them an effective framework for their education, and for the institutions involved to identify children with disability sooner. In turn, this promotes greater inclusion of children with disability alongside their nondisabled peers. In spite of these advances however, many obstacles remain, including delays in providing services for children with disability, as well as regulatory and
This report will aim to discuss the inclusion for special educational needs (SEN) students as well as those students with autistic spectrum condition (ASC). This report will discuss inclusive education and its history, as well as the social, political and philosophical arguments that impact upon it. The report will look at how educational practice is shaped by legislative and regulatory frameworks; it will also show how our own practice provides support for all children to achieve within mainstream education.
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.
The Salamanca Statement and Framework for Action on Special Needs Education (1995) was an important influence in the development of our current inclusive educational policies. As a teacher of inclusive education in 2014, we should be aware that the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians (MCEETYA, 2008) provides the general policy statements for
For thousands of years individuals with exceptionalities have been present in all parts of society across the world, especially those with physical or sensory characteristics. However, the way that these individuals have been viewed has changed dramatically. Originally these individuals were seen as ‘imbeciles,’ ‘worthless,’ and ‘a burden on society’ and were often shut away from ‘normal’ society or simply left to die or abandoned to institutions. Society has, however, created a positive change and started to exhibit a more humanitarian view and protective nature and developed a concern for the welfare of individuals with exceptionalities. The steadily changing view of society has paved the way to where today these individuals are now considered a part of an all-inclusive society where every citizen has value, merit and is capable of making a contribution to society.
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