Inclusive schools have a collaborative and respectful school culture where students with disabilities are presumed to be competent, develop positive social relationships with peers, and are fully participating members of the school community.
Why advocate for inclusion?
Research has shown that when the right supports are in place, both children with a disability and without disability benefit academically and socially.
Our kids now have the opportunity to go to college, get jobs, live independently and meaningfully contribute to society.
And, most important, IT’S THEIR CIVIL RIGHT to be included under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It states that children with disabilities must be educated in the “Least Restrictive Environment” (LRE), and to the maximum extent educated with children who are nondisabled. This placement must be as close as possible to the child’s home, and in the school that he or she would attend if nondisabled.
Helpful Links
Supplementary Aids and Services (SaS) Consideration Toolkit
Learn how this structured method is utilized by IEP teams to determine what supplementary aids and services are necessary to benefit a particular student, including the elimination of any curriculum barriers.
Inclusive Schooling (Julie Causton)
Inclusive education is an effort to create a learning environment where all students contribute and participate without specialized instruction. Ultimately this benefits everyone and leads to success for all students in the classroom.
Meaningful Inclusion for Students with Down Syndrome
This resource provides a comprehensive look at how inclusive classrooms can be successful for everyone involved and how they allow students to overcome challenges and thrive in an educational setting.
Think Inclusive
This online resource highlights the importance of having the right supports in order to serve the unique needs of a student. The argument is made that having the right supports is key to any student being successful in general education.