Inclusive Education is not just about special education. It represents a larger vision for schools and educational services that support the academic and social/emotional/behavioral success of all students.
“…To the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities, aged two to 21, inclusive, …are educated with children without disabilities; and …removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment occurs only if the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.” (from IDEA, 8VAC20-81-130)
Inclusive Education for ALL Students with Disabilities
Culture is the first C in the 3 Cs Inclusive Practices Model. It is important for teachers and administrators to promote inclusive school and classroom environments. Cultural change must occur for inclusion to be successful and long lasting.
Collaboration is the second C in the 3 Cs Inclusive Practices Model. Effective collaboration is needed to promote inclusion throughout a school, school division, and community. An inclusion team should begin with a school administrator, special education teacher, general education teacher, parents, and students. This team should meet regularly to develop an inclusion action plan, implement the plan, and analyze data to determine next steps.
Coaching is the third C in the 3 Cs Inclusive Practices Model. At least two inclusion coaches should be selected per school. These individuals will share resources, help solve problems, and advocate for needed professional development. Oftentimes, a special educator and a general educator are identified as coaches but it can be anyone in the school.
Below is information on how parents and self-advocates can advocate for inclusion within their school and school division.
What is advocacy?
Advocacy is the act of communicating on behalf of or in support of particular causes, interests, individuals, or groups.
Local forms of advocacy often serve as a type of grassroots community engagement. Grassroots Community Engagement is an organized form of bottom up volunteerism where everyday people contribute time and talent in a worthwhile purpose intended to improve their local community.
Questions to ask:
Who are you advocating for?
What are you advocating for?
Where do you advocate?
Advocacy Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
Don’t:
Parents and self-advocates feel free to download, adapt, personalize, and deliver these presentations to any of the following to advocate for inclusion. Please not only advocate for yourself or your child, but advocate for all students within the school or school division. Let’s promote change to benefit ALL.