Initial Ideas About Inclusive Education

My Personal Experience

In my grade school educational experience, I was not exposed to the concept of inclusive education. I grew up in a small town where I was with the same core group of students from kindergarten to grade 12. There were some students who needed extra help with reading, math or had other common barriers. However, from my naive perspective, there were never any severe disabilities that significantly held students back from learning. Now that I am more aware of the idea of inclusive education, I understand that these barriers can be challenging to overcome and cannot be disregarded.

Disability: Whose Responsibility

Ensuring that a student learns despite encountering a learning barrier is everyone’s responsibility. It is human nature to attribute successes to our own internal characteristics and to attribute failures to external factors; therefore, some individuals will be unwilling to take responsibility if a child is not learning. When a student with a disability is concerned, then everyone must take accountability. We must change what we can control to help a student be successful in the classroom.

Movements for Inclusive Education

I agree with the steps that have already been taken to implement inclusive education effectively in the classroom. For example, the Salamanca Statement created by UNESCO provides a foundation that all countries can draw upon when creating their own inclusive education programs. Canada has taken its own necessary steps to increase the awareness and acceptance of inclusive education. The fact that all Canadians have the right to a higher education is evidence that our country values every citizen regardless of their disabilities or inadequacies. It is reassuring to know that we are becoming more empathetic towards individuals who have disabilities and taking action to minimize the barriers they face.

Attitude and Beliefs

My preexisting belief about disabilities has leaned towards a nativist view that it is an internal trait. However, in the past few years I have come to understand the important role of the environment in a child's development. Enriched environments can increase the child's capability to learn despite their barriers. Conversely, negative environments can magnify a child's disability. Our job as educators is to provide a safe and positive learning environment for all students.

I am looking forward to expanding on my knowledge about inclusive education, challenging or reinforcing my current beliefs, and becoming an effective advocate for inclusive education because of this course.