Dr. Mahshid SalehiChild & Family Psychologist

Director, Dubai Center for Special NeedsMember of the American Psychological

Association

Inclusion: a regional perspective

What is Inclusion?

Inclusion is a philosophy of Education based on the belief that every person has the right to fully participate in society

…Inclusion is a common acceptance of differences

The term “mainstreaming” is often times The term “mainstreaming” is often times confused with with inclusion in that it also involves providing a child with inclusion in that it also involves providing a child with special needs and education in a general education special needs and education in a general education classroomclassroom

Mainstreaming

History of Inclusion in the US Until late 70’s, students with disabilities were typically

placed in segregated school settings

1970 saw researchers, policy makers, parents and educators seek out to integrate special and general education services

In 1975 the “The education for All Handicapped Children Act”

In 1990, Act was latter named “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)”

The practice of welcoming, valuing, empowering and supporting diverse academic and social learning among students of all abilities is called Inclusive Education

Inclusive Education

Debate on Inclusive educationAdvocates of inclusion believe that:

Full inclusion is suitable for all students with disabilities

The same techniques in teaching and level of care that is found in a segregated school can also be implemented in an ordinary school setting

All children have the right to learn in an integrated class setting

Children should not be discriminated against by being excluded or sent away because of their disability

Children show improvement, academically and socially in integrated settings

All children need an education that will help them develop friendships and prepare them for life within mainstream society.

Segregation teaches children to be fearful and ignorant. This approach breeds prejudices

Friendships develop, non- disabled students are more appreciative of differences.

Students with disabilities are more motivated.

True acceptance of diversity ultimately develops within the school environment and is then carried into the home, work place and community.

Advantages of Inclusive education

Disadvantages of Inclusive Education

Children with special needs can have few opportunities to play sports, participate in social activities and make friends

Children with intellectual disabilities share no interaction with others.

This scenario is counterproductive and there remains a lack of systematic evidence on the impact of Inclusion on children with special needs.

When When inclusion is inclusion is not not effectively effectively implementeimplemented research d research has shown has shown that it can that it can be a lonely be a lonely world for world for those with those with disabilities. disabilities.

Disadvantages of Inclusive Education

Results of various research projects and studies indicate that…

“Inclusion may not be beneficial for all students”

Especially for:

Children who are medically fragile Children with severe behavioral disorders Children with severe physical disabilities

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) in the USA is one organization which

supports the idea that full inclusion is not suitable for all those with disabilities

Children losing the multi-disciplinary treatment when they are placed in a regular school

Whether or not the Teachers are qualified to handle the child’s special needs

The low adult-to-child ratio

Children not receiving proper support to succeed

AFT’s main concerns

Inclusion in the UAE The current trend in the UAE is to encourage parents and teacher to allow the child to be mainstreamed or included in to the regular classrooms. It is believed by some educators that special needs students will benefit from social interaction with mainstream students and from the enriched educational environment

Perceptive Cultural Emotional

Barriers to Inclusive Education in UAE1. Resistance to the idea of students with or without disabilities

sharing the same classroom.

Hearing impairment Visual Impairment Physical challenges

2. In most cases local schools are not staffed adequately to offer education to students with varying special needs such as

3. In most cases they need a multidisciplinary approach to teaching , functional life skills cannot be addressed in a mainstream setting

4. Architectural barriers prevent children with physical disabilities out of mainstream schools

Barriers to Inclusive Education in UAE

The multi-disciplinary services, such as The multi-disciplinary services, such as physical, occupational and speech physical, occupational and speech therapy, must be availabletherapy, must be available

The building must be designed to The building must be designed to accommodate students with physical accommodate students with physical disabilities (which includes: accessibility disabilities (which includes: accessibility to the classroom, playground and all to the classroom, playground and all other facilities on campus)other facilities on campus)

Ensure availability of assistive Ensure availability of assistive technology and adaptive toystechnology and adaptive toys

Overcoming barriers

The classroom teacher must be properly The classroom teacher must be properly trained and believe that the students with trained and believe that the students with disabilities can succeeddisabilities can succeed

The regular student body should be The regular student body should be informed that a student with special needs informed that a student with special needs will be joining the class will be joining the class

The teachers must be committed to The teachers must be committed to collaborative practice in educationcollaborative practice in education

Policies and procedures must be in place to Policies and procedures must be in place to monitor the student’s progress and testingmonitor the student’s progress and testing

Overcoming barriers

Instructional Methods:Instructional Methods:

Teachers must have the knowledge and skills to adapt the Teachers must have the knowledge and skills to adapt the curriculum to best suit the individual needs of the studentcurriculum to best suit the individual needs of the student

A variety of instructional methods should be available and A variety of instructional methods should be available and utilizedutilized

Teachers must promote a cooperative learning environment Teachers must promote a cooperative learning environment and encourage socializationand encourage socialization

Overcoming barriers

Recent government policy has delivered Recent government policy has delivered some significant improvements in the some significant improvements in the employment prospects of people with employment prospects of people with special needsspecial needs

Increased awareness and acceptance Increased awareness and acceptance has changed the mind set of the people has changed the mind set of the people in the communityin the community

Inclusion at the workplace

Awareness and Interaction is key Awareness and Interaction is key towards towards Success!Success!

Employment training for special needs

A Team Built for Success: A Team Built for Success: Student Training- Employer SupportStudent Training- Employer Support

Independent Living

Long Term Employment opportunities

Support for Employers

Goals

Five recommended areas of Intervention:Five recommended areas of Intervention:

1) Providing effective early support and guidance to overcome 1) Providing effective early support and guidance to overcome the barriers they may face in order to work efficientlythe barriers they may face in order to work efficiently

2) Improving the skills and in-work support needed to enhance 2) Improving the skills and in-work support needed to enhance the employability of people with special needsthe employability of people with special needs

3) Connecting people with challenges with work by making 3) Connecting people with challenges with work by making transition to employment less risky and complicatedtransition to employment less risky and complicated

4) Engaging employers to improve the attitudes toward people 4) Engaging employers to improve the attitudes toward people with disability and their understanding of what it means to with disability and their understanding of what it means to employ a person with special needsemploy a person with special needs

5) Finally, building information networks to bring together and 5) Finally, building information networks to bring together and disseminate important information to people with special disseminate important information to people with special needs and to their employers, family and friendsneeds and to their employers, family and friends

Inclusion at the workplace

Parents are their children’s first teacher; therefore, they should Parents are their children’s first teacher; therefore, they should be able to work and communicate with teachers and decide be able to work and communicate with teachers and decide what would be the best place for their childwhat would be the best place for their child

One of the most important roles that a parent has, in addition to One of the most important roles that a parent has, in addition to finding a right place, is to observe, monitor and support their finding a right place, is to observe, monitor and support their children’s progresschildren’s progress

Parents’ role in inclusion

Successful Successful Inclusion ModelInclusion Model

ParentsGovern

ment

Educational

System

Community

Together we can make Inclusion a reality!