Why inclusion

The Benefits of Inclusive Education Over the years, the benefits of providing an inclusive education to all children have been shown. Inclusive education when practiced well is very important because: All children are able to be part of their community and develop a sense of belonging and become better prepared for life in the community as children and adults.

It provides better opportunities for learning. Children with varying abilities are often better motivated when they learn in classes surrounded by other children. The expectations of all the children are higher. It allows children to work on individual goals while being with other students their own age. It encourages the involvement of parents in the education of their children and the activities of their local schools.

It fosters a culture of respect and belonging. It also provides the opportunity to learn about and accept individual differences. It provides all children with opportunities to develop friendships with one another.

Exclusion fuels the fear of difference. Inclusion, on the other hand, fuels acceptance. At Special Olympics Unified Schools , students with and without intellectual disabilities learn and play side-by-side. As a result, communities with Unified Schools have seen less bullying, teasing, and other acts of intolerance. Unified Sports brings players both with and without intellectual disabilities together on a team, giving them the opportunity to spend time with one another, and share a common interest.

This interaction supports the development of friendships, as well as social inclusion. Our research has shown that most teammates said that they had developed a greater understanding of people with intellectual disabilities through the program.

Through the uniting power of sports, our athletes build confidence in what they can accomplish. This gives special education students the support they need while they stay in a general education classroom. But most kids who are eligible for special education spend the majority of their time in general education classrooms.

In an inclusive classroom, general education teachers and special education teachers work together to meet the needs of all students. This is key. As Carl A. Many schools have inclusive classrooms. This law says that students who get special education services should learn in the least restrictive environment LRE. Inclusive classes are set up in a number of ways. Some use a collaborative team teaching or co-teaching model.

Other inclusive classes have special education teachers push in at specific times during the day to teach instead of pulling kids out of class to a separate room. In either case, both teachers are available to help all students. Studies show that inclusion is beneficial for all students — not just for those who get special education services.

In fact, research shows that inclusive education has positive short-term and long-term effects for all students. Kids with special education needs who are in inclusive classes are absent less often.

They develop stronger skills in reading and math. The same research shows that their peers benefit, too. Registered Charity Registered Company intranet. Because the world is changing, because moral values are being re-examined as stereotypical thinking is increasingly exposed, because national and international guidance advocates inclusion and, quite simply, because any alternative seems unacceptable, if not morally flawed: Valuing some people more than others is unethical.

Preserving school cultures, policies and practices that are non-responsive to the diversity of learners perpetuates inequalities. Thinking that inclusion mostly concerns disabled learners is misleading. Thinking that school changes made for some will not benefit others is short-sighted.

Viewing differences between students as problems to be overcome is disrespectful and limits learning opportunities.