3. Focus Questions What are the factors influencing the need for educational reform? (including socio-economic conditions and current challenges that face the special education system) What are the basic premise, concepts, and anticipated outcomes of inclusive school communities? How do the educational practices affected by culture, language and ethnicity How do you think about “Labeling” a student?
4. What is inclusion? Students with disabilities are served primarily in the general education classroom, under the responsibility of the general classroom teacher. These student may receive some of their instruction in another setting based on their needs. What does an inclusive school look like? Shared responsibility Shared decision-making Roles changed Educate all learners
5. Inclusion means Teach all students Each student is included in the class list Shared responsibility for general and special education teachers In-class support to students when needed Inclusion does not mean Dump students in the classroom without support Exclude students from an activity, but assign them to do something else Physically appear in the classroom only Participate in non-academic activities only
6. Inclusive Schools Can you list school professionals’ interests & responsibilities in inclusive schools? List families’ interests and responsibilities in inclusive schools:
7. School Personnels’ Interests in inclusive school communities To be effective and productive professionally & personally To maintain their own dignity, safety, security Opportunity to participate in a school community that fosters professional growth and development, that tolerates their differences, limitations, capacities and needs Opportunity to initiate &sustain relationships with other professionals Opportunity to engage in life long learning
8. School Personnels’ Responsibilities in inclusive school communities To request the assistance and support they need to be professionally responsible and productive To share knowledge with others and offer supports as possible and responsible To teach students how to make choices and to allow (foster) real choices among limited options To teach students how to exert control over their environment in socially acceptable ways To provide basic skills to earn a living and acquire housing, clothing, food
9. To teach workplace skills (cooperative work, conflict management, communication) To provide normal environments and access to people with different capacities, limitations To teach skills for establishing and maintaining relationships To continually enhance their understanding of themselves as learners, to self assess strengths and weaknesses, to engage in change and gain new information School Personnels’ Responsibilities in inclusive school communities (cont’d)
10. Families’ Interests in inclusive school communities Quality of life To maintain family life Opportunity to make choice for themselves and their child Control over their environment Security/Safety for their child Productivity Community participation and support for themselves and their child
11. Families’ Responsibilities in inclusive school communities Provide for their child’s needs and interests that allow for their own quality of life and the quality of life of their children To interact with school professionals and to advocate for the needs and interests of their child as well as all children To support the efforts of school professionals when those efforts have the intention of increasing their child’s quality of life or that of other children To support school personnel in providing a secure, safe environment for their child, as well as all children To support their child and other children in becoming caring people who can interact with and support the learning and social needs of their schoolmates To continue to grow and learn and engage in change
12. Potential Barriers to Successful Inclusion General education teacher may feel unable to meet the student’s needs General education teacher may not want to work with the student Finding time to meet with all classroom teachers is difficult Student may not be socially accepted by peers
