Inclusive Education for Individuals with Disabilities

Inclusive Education for Individuals with Disabilities

Education is an essential tool for an individual’s future success. Students are entitled to mandatory education. The education system is mandated to address all students’ needs to promote their academic success. Inclusive education fosters educational success by providing a conducive learning atmosphere for all students, including those with special educational needs. Inclusion in education helps students from different settings and with different learning needs to learn in the same environment, propelling their future success and developing effective social interactions. Educators incorporate differentiated teaching methods and practices in an inclusive environment, which helps to meet the needs of all students, narrowing the educational gap between students with and without special educational needs. Biblical perspectives support integrating an inclusive learning environment to enhance equity and equality in education.

Keywords: inclusive education, inclusive learning environment, student with disabilities, and student without disabilities.

Inclusive Education for Individuals with Disabilities

Historically, individuals with disabilities have always been discriminated against in most sectors. The education system is not exceptional in its practices. Students with disabilities have experienced exclusion from the general education system, where they are placed in learning institutions developed for individuals with special needs. Setting up special learning institutions for students with special educational needs propelled isolation and discrimination of the population. The increasing exclusion of students with disabilities in education leads to parents’ and guardians’ advocacy, demanding the protection of their children’s rights to education regardless of their learning disabilities. The advocacy promoted quality and inclusive education for all students. The education system has adopted a human rights-based approach to promote education for all, focusing on enhancing access to quality education and providing equal opportunities to all persons. Numerous laws and policies have been enacted, fostering an inclusive education system where students with and without special educational needs learn in the same setting (De Bruin, 2019). The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, formerly the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, was passed to support free and quality public education for students with disabilities (Andrews et al., 2019). The enactment promoted equal opportunities for education without discrimination. Inclusive education recognizes that all individuals, including those with disabilities, have different learning capacities, preferences, and strengths. The inclusive education system supports an individualized plan, addressing all learners’ needs and promoting inclusion and diversity in education and society.

Research Questions

1. What is the impact of inclusive education in the education system?
2. How does promoting an inclusive learning environment benefit the social growth and development of students with and without special education needs?

Importance

Inclusion in education benefits students with special educational needs and is essential to students without learning disabilities. Inclusive education fosters a friendly learning environment where students with and without special learning needs interact and acquire academic skills. Educators incorporate differentiated teaching methods and practices in an inclusive classroom to address the individualized needs of each student, which promotes equity and equality in the education system. Inclusive education protects the rights of students with disabilities. All students get equal opportunities to access quality education without discrimination. The learning environment provides students with disabilities the chance to develop their full academic potential since they are exposed to a rich environment with all learning needs. Fostering an inclusive learning environment cultivates an interpersonal relationship between students with and without special learning needs as the student learns to respect and understand the value of diversity. The learning culture developed through inclusive education promotes social cohesion and inclusion (Muzaffarova, 2020). Historically, the exclusion of people with disabilities in education, which led to segregated learning settings for people with disabilities, prompted education reforms to support the needs of all students in the same learning environment. It is fascinating to see learners with diverse learning needs interacting in the same environment and developing their fullest potential, fostered through the inclusive education system, hence my interest in this topic.

Significance of the Topic

An inclusive education system is a worthwhile strategy for promoting equal education. Understanding the significance of inclusion in education encourages educators to acquire relevant teaching skills to incorporate in their teaching practices to meet the needs of their students. Inclusive education is also essential in guiding the learning institutions to integrate appropriate requirements to meet the educational goals of the current education system. Proper implementation of inclusive education enlightens all students about the benefits of learning in an inclusive and interactive environment, where students develop a sense of belonging and respect for their peers regardless of appearance. Inclusive education further promotes parents’ participation and involvement in their children’s learning process, increasing the accountability of all stakeholders in the student’s academic performance (Vinodrao, 2016). The inclusive education topic provides significant information on how educators should integrate best teaching practices in their classrooms. Also, it advocates for a culture of respect among students to achieve critical educational goals. The topic further teaches students to recognize that disability is not inability and that they should be on the frontline to support their peers with disabilities to acknowledge their purpose and potential.

The Impact of the Topic on Current Practices

Inequity and inequality in education have been significant barriers to effective education systems, promoting educational gaps among students. The most influential educational gap contributor is financial inequity, where students from higher socioeconomic status have better learning opportunities than those from lower socioeconomic status. Apart from inequity issues, discrimination has also significantly threatened the quality of education for students from the two socioeconomic backgrounds. Some students can access modern learning tools and equipment compared to the minority population from lower income levels. In addition to discrimination based on social status, students with disabilities are subject to discrimination to improve quality education and are excluded in the general learning settings. Notably, inclusive education has aided in the elimination of discriminatory practices and actions in the education sector, where students have equal opportunities for quality education regardless of their educational needs. This topic of inclusive education responds to the demand for equality and equity in education. Inclusive education has revolutionized the education sector and enhanced skills development among educators to implement effective teaching methods. All students have equal opportunities for quality education, promoting social cohesion and development.

Biblical Worldview

The biblical perspective upholds the value of inclusivity. Jesus’ miracles and healing ministry demonstrate that Jesus is loving, caring, inclusive, and associated with people with different disabilities. Jesus showed his love to Lazarus, who was disabled (Ronde-Davidse, 2019). Based on the Bible’s teachings, special education students require special care to foster their educational goals and develop their full potential. Love is the greatest command in the Bible. Inclusive education, where students with and without disabilities learn in the same learning environment, helps to demonstrate love and understanding for students with disabilities. An interactive, inclusive learning environment boosts students with disabilities’ self-esteem and a sense of belonging, which enhances their academic performance. “So, God created mankind in his image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (New International Version, 2011, Genesis 1:27). The biblical perspective affirms that God is the creation of all beings, with or without disability. Hence, promoting inclusive education acknowledges that we are all equal and created in God’s image and likeness.

Conclusion

All students have a right to equal and quality education. Students should be offered equal educational opportunities regardless of their physical or mental disability. Inclusive education fosters a conducive learning environment where students with and without special educational needs interact in the same setting. Inclusive learning is important to all students with and without special learning needs. Inclusive education promotes parental engagement and participation in the student’s learning activities, which boosts their sense of security in the learning environment. Students also acquire diverse skills apart from academic skills. The students can develop their interpersonal relationships with people with different identities. Also, the students enhance their social growth and development. Consistently, educators should develop their teaching skills to foster an effective, inclusive learning environment for all students, which aligns with the educational goals.

References

Andrews, E. E., Forber-Pratt, A. J., Mona, L. R., Lund, E. M., Pilarski, C. R., & Balter, R. (2019). # SaytheWord: A disability culture commentary on the erasure of “disability.” Rehabilitation psychology, 64(2), 111. https://doi.org/10.1037/rep0000258

De Bruin, K. (2019). The impact of inclusive education reforms on students with disability: an international comparison. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 23(7-8), 811-826. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2019.1623327

Muzaffarova, X. (2020). The corrective importance of inclusive education for children with disabilities. Academia: An International Multidisciplinary Research Journal.

New International Version Bible. (2011). The NIV Bible. https://www.thenivbible.com (Original work published 1978)

Ronde-Davidse, N. A. D. (2019). Integrating Faith and Special Education: A Christian Faith Approach to Special Education Practice. https://doi.org/10.1177/2056997118813327

Vinodrao, S. V. (2016). Benefits of inclusive education for students with intellectual disabilities. International Journal of Education and Management Studies, 6(2), 186.

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The purpose of the Historical Review Project is threefold: 1) to choose a special education leadership and administration topic/question and investigate the importance, significance, and impact of this chosen topic pertaining to its history; 2) to demonstrate knowledge and application of the current APA formatting and writing style, and 3) to be able to articulate a biblical worldview concerning the historical topic chosen.

The changing landscape of special education is easy to observe throughout our discussions and research of the historical and contemporary issues in special education. Issues such as school reform, inclusion, public policy and disability, standards assessment, disability classification, and transition planning are among just a few topics that can be viewed from multiple perspectives. Strong opinions and research are available to support or question all of these differing viewpoints.

Instructions

Develop a research question that is narrowed to investigate a particular topic/issue pertaining to special education. Submit your research question/topic and a detailed outline.

Research question details: When developing a research question, be sure to thoroughly review this topic. Pay particular attention to the historical context of this topic. As you review the research, what questions come to mind? Questions such as why, what, when, and how are good starting places. Develop a research question/topic that can be answered by your research.

Outline details: Once the research question has been developed, discuss the perceived answer to your question/topic by addressing the following questions (the use of headers is encouraged in your final paper):

1. Discuss what interested you most about the topic (known as the introduction).
2. Discuss why this topic is important to study.
3. What significant impact did this topic have on the development of Special Education?
4. What impact did this topic have on the current standing of Special Education?
5. How should a person with a biblical worldview react to this topic?
6. What effect could a biblical worldview have on Special Education both historically and presently?
7. Provide a conclusion.

Submit your research question/topic/outline in an APA-formatted Word document. Include a title page and reference page. Your outline must contain at least six main points (i.e., I, II, III) with references and at least three subpoints (i.e., A, B, C) under each main point. You are also expected to include at least one secondary source in your analysis. Use the Historical Review Project: Research Paper Assignment Instructions and grading rubric as your guide.