What does a good inclusive placement look like?

While placement is definitely a piece to the inclusion puzzle, it doesn’t automatically mean that a classroom (or school) is truly inclusive. It's also the process that the educators go through thinking about how to make that environment work for every kid in that environment.

In an inclusive classroom, it's not just that we are making sure that the kids with disabilities have the services and support they need to make that work, but also teaching the kids without disabilities how to work with people who might need something different. When inclusion is done right, it should feel and look very natural, meaning all of the children are working, helping, and teaching one another together.

That’s why placement is a great starting point to inclusion, but it’s not the final destination. True inclusion means creating an environment that actively teaches and supports a classroom where all students can meaningfully participate, socialize, and access the academic material successfully. Because at the end of the day, inclusion benefits everyone.

For more information and examples, see our article 6 Ways to Make Inclusion Work — Real Advice from a Special Education Advocate.