Educational Inclusion
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Educational Inclusion

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Overview

Inclusion in education means more than a child with disabilities just being physically present in a general education classroom; it means they have access to the same curriculum as their peers, with appropriate accommodations and supports, and they have opportunities for meaningful participation and socialization. All of these things can be vital for a student's growth and progress. The following resources help parents understand the benefits of inclusion and advocate for a more inclusive school environment through IEP goals and other advocacy tools.

What does inclusion mean?

Inclusion is the process of changing the school environment so that a student with unique challenges can be successful. For our kids, inclusion means being able to participate with their typically developing peers in the classroom, extracurricular programs, and other activities like P.E. with any accommodations or services they need to do so. A huge variety of supports can be offered, including a 1:1 aide, assistive technology, and behavior support. Related services such as speech and occupational therapy can be pushed in. You can learn all about educational inclusion and what it looks like in practice in our article Inclusion 101.

Contents


Overview

What does inclusion mean?

Why should I advocate for inclusion in my child’s school?

How do I get school staff on board with inclusion?

Where can I write inclusion into the IEP?

Latest Resources

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Author

Brittany OlsenUndivided Editor

An editor and cartoonist who loves using words and images to simplify and share ideas. She has ten years of experience as a copy editor and lives near Portland, Oregon. She often spends her free time going on nature walks with her dog or trying new bread recipes.

Reviewed by Jennifer Drew, Undivided Senior Editor


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