What Does Inclusion Look Like?
As a parent of a child with a developmental disability, inclusion must be high on your list of the day to day experience for your child. What does this look like for you? Every child has their own way to express: to feel like they are a part of something greater than themselves.
When my son was in middle school, he participated in afterschool programs. Was this inclusion? Some would say yes, yet he spent most of the time in these programs alone. The only time he was engaged with someone else was when the school set up a mentoring program with a boy that was a grade above my son. They would hang out at school and do things together. Once in a while the boy would call my son and they would meet up in town for a slice. So is this inclusion?
What about the weekends, holidays, Friday nights that my son sat at home watching television by himself, playing a wii game or using social media?
Now don’t get me wrong, I am sure these programs would work for some children and parents. My first thoughts were this – I have advocated for my son at various levels of his development. Advocated for him to have more appropriate education which led to him going to a specialized school. Advocated for him to leave that school to return to his neighborhood school. Advocated for him to remain in our local high school where he could walk to town after school, walk to the youth center or even walk home.
As my son moved into high school was the local school right for him? His school social worker had a better idea and she was right. By sending my son to an out of district high school he flourished and even joined the wrestling team where many after school days and weekends were filled with practices and tournaments. So which situation was more inclusive? His neighborhood school or the one he had to sit on the bus for an hour to get to?
I have to say the long bus ride was worth it in so many way, yet the IDEA would have you stay local. Which is more inclusive? It is the placement where you - the student - feel included.