Transcript The Academic and Social Benefits of Inclusion

By Lauren Varga and Jen Gudelski
What is Inclusion?
 Inclusion is the educational practice of
educating children with disabilities in
general education classrooms in their
neighborhood schools and providing
them with the necessary services and
supports.
Why are the Academic Benefits of
inclusion so important?
 A combination of push in and pull out make inclusion
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most successful
Peer to peer learning with limited teacher guidance
Diversifies abilities in the classroom which
acknowledges the fact that all students have
something to contribute
The feeling of being accepted academically not just
socially
Teachers must use flex groups and collaboration to
maximize learning
Academic Benefits of Inclusion for
Students with Disabilities
 Learn through peers thinking
 Students know they can do whatever one else is doing
 Strong academically especially in language arts
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activities
Transitions to other grade levels is easier
More likely to be on task
Develop more problem solving skills
In general more enhanced learning experience
More likely to learn through technology
Increased achievement of IEP Goals
Academic Benefits of Inclusion for
Students without Disabilities
 Shared ideas-learn from everyone not only peers on
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same ability level
Opportunities to master concepts through practice
and teaching others
Develop more problem solving skills
More likely to learn through technology
Greater academic accomplishments
All students needs are meet, greater resources for
everyone
Academic role models
Academic Benefits of Inclusion
for Teachers
 Provide knowledge, skills, and information to all
students
 Tailor learning to meet individual needs
 Use of technology to support learners
 Encourage co-teaching and collaboration
 Maintain high expectations for all students
 Engage in continuous improvement for all students as
well as professionally
Why are the Social Benefits of
inclusion so important?
 Social relationships play an important role in a child’s
well-being
 Friendships and social interactions help develop social
skills and abilities
 Being rejected by peers can result to isolation later in
life
 Feeling socially included builds confidence and
increases happiness
Social Benefits for
Students with Disabilities
 Have greater opportunity to learn appropriate social skills
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from typical peers
In increase in social, communication and behavioral skills
Provides students with social opportunities similar to
experiences they will encounter in the real world
Opportunities to develop reciprocal friendships
Increase in language development and ability to advocate
for themselves
 On average 2 to 8 time greater Happiness 
Social Benefits for
Students without Disabilities
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Greater tolerance, acceptance and understanding of others
Encounter satisfying friendships and companionships
Realize their own strengths and weaknesses
Learn to work with a variety of needs – which prepares
them for the real world
Children who are quiet or shy have the opportunity to take
a leadership role
Become advocates for students with disabilities
More likely to go into helping professions (teaching,
nursing, and medicine)
Greater self-esteem 
Social Benefits for
Teachers / Families/ Communities
 Teachers
 More apt to build relationships with colleagues from a variety of fields
 Gained personal satisfaction when watching relationships develop
 Become advocates for students with disabilities
 Have more opportunities to use communicative devices
 Greater opportunities to have meaningful discussion about diversity
 Families
 Feel more included in the school and community
 Become advocates for children with disabilities
 Increased expectations and positive attitudes
 More involvement and support for school programs
 Communities
 Members realize the potential of all children
 Members promote independence for children with disabilities
 Experienced reduced fear of human differences / increased awareness
 Become advocates for early intervention
Recommendations for Teachers
 Classroom climate of high acceptance and high expectations
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for all students
Social Skills Instruction: create social activities to promote
interactions, providing some information about the disability
cooperative grouping arrangements
Students with disabilities need to be evenly distributed
among the classrooms
Educate families about the disabilities
Advocate for your students with special needs and advocate
for all your students
Provide Social opportunities in the Summer months
Work closely with the specialists to analyze the effectiveness
of the program. Make changes, if needed
Recommendations (continued)
 Recognize their central responsibility for all students that they
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teach
Engage with a teacher community (i.e. collaborate)
Develop a shared philosophy around respecting everyone in the
class and their learning
Carefully plan group work-assign roles to all group members
Explore student understandings, encourage questioning, and
link new and prior knowledge
Utilize students as a resource for learning
Work on skills in a holistic way
Use activities which the learner finds meaningful
Use different strategies that incorporate hands-on and diverse
opportunities to engage with concepts as well as others
understandings
Questions
 What experiences have you had in an inclusive setting?
What kinds of benefits did you observe? Any
concerns?
 Do you believe inclusion should continue, as is? What
would you change about the inclusive programs that
you’ve seen? How can, we as teachers, improve
inclusive settings?
 In the future, do you believe self-contained
educational settings will become obsolete?
This Video highlights the Social
Benefits of Inclusion
http://www.youtube.com/watc
h?v=Wq6BnMmXhc4&feature=
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