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Inclusive Education is for all students
Inclusive education allows equitable access to all students despite their race, gender, ethnicity, religion, age, language, and ability. There is a misconception that inclusive education is for students with disabilities but it is for every student those who have a disability and those who don't. The goal is to provide an environment for every student to learn and prosper.
UNESCO explains that "Inclusive education means all children in the same classrooms, in the same schools. It means real learning opportunities for groups who have traditionally been excluded – not only children with disabilities but speakers [users] of minority languages too."
Image description: Black background and a multicolor word spells "INCLUSION"
Accessibility in education
Accessibility in education is to ensure that there are no barriers that prevent interaction with or access to:
- Content: educational materials and resources in the classroom, textbooks. US government through youth.gov explains that "accommodation is a change that is made so that a person with a disability is able to fully participate".
- Environment means "having a place that is set up to be accessible to people with disabilities" (Youth.gov) including Hallways, classroom doors, and school entry. e.g. having automated doors allow easy access for people with wheelchairs.
Image description: Multicolor circles with accessibility options including interpreting, Closed Captions, and Braille.
Quality of education and success
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To ensure every student has access to an inclusive educational environment that leads to a successful learning outcome. Quality education does not mean offering minimum accommodation that's within the budget but supporting them for a successful educational outcome through their preferred accommodation and method of learning. UNESCO explains that Quality education as SDG 4 aims to ensure education for all, starting from basic education by reducing inequalities, and allowing educational opportunities for all specifically those from marginalized populations.
For example, visual learners would prefer to have images and videos displayed for visual access to the content. Another example is to teach using sign language to students who are Deaf and hard of hearing.
Image description: Red background with an open book and a pen in white.
Universal Design for Learning is not an ultimate solution
Universal Design for Learning is “a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn” (CAST, 2018). UDL is a framework, not a teaching method, and can apply to different fields including Education. UDL is used as a lens to provide inclusive education for all students despite their abilities.
Image description: Three intersecting circles in green reading "engagement", in blue reading "action and expression" and in purple reading "representation" with UDL in the. middle.