Saturday, March 23, 2013

Inclusion IS NOT a Program...

One of the reasons I love twitter is because of the insight I gain from my PLN (Professional Learning Network).  I love the fact that I can thumb through my timeline and grow and be challenged as a professional educator.
Tonight while reading I was directed to a great blog post from @JewishSpecialEd on inclusion.  I was reminded why I do what I do.  Even thinking of the 3 years that I've been in Community ISD, I think about how much different "inclusion" is now compared to when I first began.  I feel like for most of our teachers there has been a complete change in mindset of having all students in class being given access to the same curriculum as their peers.  Having the opportunity to be in so many different classrooms at every level from PPCD through high school I have experienced those moments when a student gets...really gets...an algebra concept that they would not have even been exposed to in a resource classroom.  Now, these students with special needs may still have an IEP and we are taking an individualized approach to their educational process, but they are being exposed to everything their peers are being exposed to.  Personally, I do not see the disadvantage of this at all.

I want to share with you this excerpt from the above mentioned blog.  Perfectly stated...

"Accommodations are important.  Awareness is necessary.  But inclusion is not a program. Inclusion is what we do.  It's the attitude we have.  It is the way we treat others and the way they treat us.  Inclusion is the opportunity to learn together and from one another.  And we do it because it is the right thing to do.  Period.  Inclusion is right.  Inclusion is just.  So we do it."

"Inclusion is not a service, placement, or program......Inclusion is a MINDSET!"


Zach Snow, Behavior Coach


Image from http://theeducatorsroom.com/2012/10/inclusion-not-always-the-answer/

1 comment:

  1. Zach, I just stumbled across this today. I am so glad you found my post meaningful and I appreciate that you linked to it here. I, too, am so pleased to have such a strong PLN through social media and predominantly Twitter. Thanks again!

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