What does inclusion look like in a classroom?

Schools and classrooms talk about being inclusive, or having inclusive classrooms, but what does that really mean? Does that mean that they have kids with learning disabilities in the classroom? Does it mean that they just sit kids with learning differences alongside their peers and clan this inclusion, because they are included in the class? Not exactly. 

Being an inclusive classroom means that it is all inclusive of everyone's abilities. Not just by proximity, but by learning abilities, physical abilities and any emotional consideration as well. This is different from integration. Integration attempts to absorb the child with special needs in to a mainstream classroom. Making the child accommodate to the classroom, rather than the other way around.  In an inclusive classroom of 20 kids, you might have 6 of them have IEP or 504 plans. And you would have your classroom planned out in ways that are accepting of and accommodate these abilities, as well as plan and differentiate for the whole classroom. An inclusive classroom is one where the education of the students benefits all of the students in the classroom. 

So for a child that has to use a wheelchair, to make them feel included, you would have bigger spaces between all of your shelves and areas in order for them to have complete access to get around the classroom. You also might have things that are needed more in the classroom on a top shelf so that it is more easily accessible without them having to ask for help in getting it, since reaching down in a wheelchair would prove difficult. For a child with sensorial or emotional needs, you might have a calming space, or an aide that can sense when this child needs a break and takes them for a walk, or to the gym to run around. They would not be punished for things that are out of their control such as needing to stand during circle, it would be explained to the classroom, "this is how Johnny learns best, just like you learn best sitting down, and Suzy learns best on her wobble chair, and Bobby learns best on his yoga ball, we all learn differently." And all of these things would be accessible to not only the child that has the disability, but to the whole class. That's the difference between integration an inclusion. With integration, you are making the child fit to the classroom. With inclusion, you are making your classroom fit the needs of not only the children with learning differences, but all of the children in your classroom. 

An inclusive classroom is accessible to all leaners. So, this could mean differentiated learning, accessible seating, seating near a teacher, giving a child fidgets if needed. Most of all, a child should be pulled out of the classroom as little as possible for extra learning time. Instead the teacher should "push in". What does this mean? If a child has speech services for instance, whenever possible, the speech therapist should come to the classroom to help the child with speech and language. This obviously might not always be possible as they may need to work on specific skills in a quieter environment. But, whenever possible, the speech therapist should work on speech skills in the classroom where the child is working on speech with his class. Just like a physical therapist would try to work on gross motor skills while the child is at recess or in gym class with his classmates. Again, there may be some instances where the child needs time to perfect some skills in a more individualized situation where the therapist will pull him out, but to all degrees possible, the classroom is more inclusive, when the therapists push in. 

It also makes it more inclusive when the general education teacher and special education teacher and related professionals co-plan lessons together. This way, the general education teacher is better able to teach to the whole class, while being able to take into consideration the individualized needs of the children on her or his caseloads with IEP plans or 504 plans and how to meet their needs and the whole classrooms needs auth the same time. The general education teacher will be able to differentiate her plans to meet the needs of all the students in her classroom. In this way, all of the students may work on the same subject, but in different ways, and possibly at different paces. 

In inclusive classrooms, children should not be grouped together by disability. There may be some cases where children are put in a certain seat for a certain reason, such as when a teacher places a child closer to her due to the child having ADHD and needing less distractions and closer monitoring.  There may also be cases where children are places together by abilities during parts of the day, such as during reading groups. But, for most of the day, children should be mixed together throughout the class so that they feel that they are all included as one classroom. In this way, students needs are accommodated and all children are still all to access the general education curriculum. Some children may do so at a different pace, or may do so with assistance, but they are able to be in the classroom accessing the same curriculum as their peers as much as possible. 

Most of all, an inclusive classroom is one where every student feels loved, accepted, connected and part of the whole classroom!