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"Integration is a process of placing persons with disabilities in existing mainstream educational institutions, as long as the former can adjust to the standardized requirements of such institutions" (Villegas, 2017)

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See all the wonderful things Lindsay Hartzman has made

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When kids are found eligible for special education services, it's common for their families to worry that they'll be placed in a different classroom than other kids their age. But most kids who are eligible for special education spend the majority of their time in general education classrooms. Many of those classrooms are what's known as inclusion (or inclusive) classrooms.

In an inclusion classroom, general education teachers and special education teachers work together to meet the needs of all students.

This is key. As Carl A. Cohn, EdD, executive director of the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence, points out, "It's important...to realize that special education students are first and foremost general education students."

Many schools have inclusive classrooms. In part, that's because of the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA). This law says that students who get special education services should learn in the " least restrictive environment " (LRE). That means they should spend as much time as possible with students who don't get special education services.

Inclusive classes are set up in a number of ways. Some use a collaborative team teaching (or co-teaching) model. With co-teaching, there's a special education teacher in the room all day.

Other inclusive classes have special education teachers " push in " at specific times during the day to teach (instead of pulling kids out of class to a separate room). In either case, both teachers are available to help all students.

Studies show that inclusion is beneficial for all students-not just for those who get special education services. In fact, research shows that inclusive education has positive short-term and long-term effects for all students.

Kids with special education needs who are in inclusive classes are absent less often. They develop stronger skills in reading and math. They're also more likely to have jobs and pursue education after high school.

The same research shows that their peers benefit, too. They're more comfortable with and more tolerant of differences. They also have increased positive self-esteem and diverse, caring friendships.

Read on to learn more benefits of inclusive classrooms.

1. Tailors Teaching for All Learners

All students learn differently. This is a principle of inclusive education. In an inclusive classroom, teachers weave in specially designed instruction and support that can help students make progress. These strategies are helpful for all students. Kids may be given opportunities to move around or use fidgets. And teachers often put positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) in place.

Another key teaching strategy is to break students into small groups. When teachers use small groups, they can tailor their teaching to the way each student learns best. This is known as differentiated instruction.

Teachers meet the needs of all students by presenting lessons in different ways and using the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. For example, they may use multisensory instruction. In math, that may mean using visual aids and manipulatives like cubes or colored chips to help kids learn new concepts. (See more examples of multisensory math techniques.)

Some classrooms may have an interactive whiteboard. On it, kids can use their fingers to write, erase, and move images around on the large screen. This teaching tool can also be used to turn students' work into a video, which can be exciting for kids and help keep them engaged.

2. Makes Differences Less "Different"

Inclusive classrooms are filled with diverse learners, each of whom has strengths and challenges. Inclusion gives kids a way to talk about how everyone learns in their own way. They may find that they have more in common with other kids than they thought. This can go a long way in helping kids know that difference is just a normal part of life. It can also help kids build and maintain friendships.

3. Provides Support to All Students

In more traditional special education settings, many kids are "pulled out" for related services like speech therapy or for other specialized instruction. An inclusion class often brings speech therapists, reading specialists, and other service providers into the classroom.

These professionals can provide information and suggestions to help all students. If kids aren't eligible for special education but still need some extra support, they can get it informally.

4. Creates High Expectations for All

In an Individualized Education Program (IEP), a student's goals should be based on the academic standards for their state. Those standards lay out what all students are expected to learn in math, reading, science, and other subjects by the end of the school year.

Differentiated instruction and co-teaching in a general education classroom make it easier for students with standards-based IEPs to be taught the same material as their classmates.

In some schools, only certain classrooms are designated as inclusive. In that case, schools may assign general education students randomly to inclusive or noninclusive classes. Other schools may choose students who benefit from the emphasis on meeting the needs of all learners at all ability levels.

Investigate the supports and services that might be available in an inclusion classroom. Explore the various models of collaborative team teaching. And read an interview with an inclusion specialist about what inclusion looks like in action.

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When kids are found eligible for special education services, it's common for their families to worry that they'll be placed in a different classroom than other kids their age.

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Evolution of Education Over Time - Shelley Moore

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Evolution of Education Over Time - Shelley Moore

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"Students with disabilities
go to the same schools as their brothers and sisters, are provided with access to the same learning
opportunities as other young people, and are engaged in both the academic and social activities of the
school. In turn, all young people build their own stock of ‘social capital’: their network of relationships
with, and empathy towards, a diverse range of other people of similar age which may be important to the
opportunities they get as they become older and take up adult roles in their communities." (Porter & Towell, 2017)

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“Inclusive education is central to the achievement
of high-quality education for all learners and
the development of more inclusive societies.
Inclusion is still thought of in some countries
as an approach to serving children with
disabilities within general educational settings.
Internationally, however, it is increasingly seen
more broadly as a reform that supports and
welcomes diversity amongst all learners.”
(UNESCO, 2008)

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Feeling like an "other" in a classroom, despite physically being in it, stays with a person.

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"Studies show that when parents are engaged in their children’s education, students are more likely to earn higher grades, have better behavior and social skills, and continue their education at a higher level" (Ministry of Education, 2018)

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Ontario Making Progress to Ensure Inclusive Education System

Province Promoting Equity in Parent Engagement

Ontario is making progress towards ensuring the education system is more equitable and inclusive for all students and their families, by providing training to trustees and supporting parental engagement from Indigenous and racially or ethnically diverse communities.

Indira Naidoo-Harris, Minister of Education, and Kevin Flynn, MPP for Oakville, were at W. H. Morden Public School in Oakville this morning to make the announcement.

Since announcing its first-ever Education Equity Action Plan, Ontario has been making important strides to ensure equity across all aspects of publicly funded education. Examples of Ontario's progress include:

Training for Trustees on Equity, Ethics and Governance - providing intensive professional development to an initial 60 trustees from across the province to provide them with the information and skills development on the most pertinent ethical and equity governance issues facing Ontario's school boards, equipping them with the knowledge, strategies, tools and tactics to navigate challenging situations.

Collecting voluntary identity-based student data - working with 15 school boards to develop a consistent approach to data collection, including race, ethnicity and socio-economic status of their students. This first phase of work will inform the process for the collection of voluntary student data across the province, and is in alignment with the mandate of the Anti-Racism Directorate.

Applications are now being accepted until June 5, 2018, for Parents Reaching Out Grants for the next school year, with focus this year on equity and inclusion. Special consideration will be given to projects that support the engagement of parents from Indigenous, racially or ethnically diverse communities.

Ensuring an equitable and inclusive education system is part of Ontario's plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change. The plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.

Quick Facts

In 2009, the ministry launched the Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy, designed to support human rights as described in the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and other relevant legislation.

The Education Equity Action Plan builds on the goals of Ontario's 2009 Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy.

In the 2017-18 school year, the government funded 2,789 parent engagement projects. This includes 2,670 school council projects in the amount of $2.62 million and 119 regional/provincial projects in the amount of $1.15 million.

Since 2006, the government has awarded more than 22,000 Parents Reaching Out grants to school councils and more than 900 regional/provincial grants - a total investment of nearly $35 million to help increase parent involvement in publicly funded education.

Studies show that when parents are engaged in their children's education, students are more likely to earn higher grades, have better behavior and social skills, and continue their education at a higher level.

Additional Resources

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ontario making progress to ensure inclusive education system

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Ontario Making Progress to Ensure Inclusive Education System

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Province Promoting Equity in Parent Engagement Ontario is making progress towards ensuring the education system is more equitable and inclusive for all students and their families, by providing training to trustees and supporting parental engagement from Indigenous and racially or ethnically diverse communities. Indira Naidoo-Harris, Minister of Education, and Kevin Flynn, MPP for Oakville, were at W.

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"Learning opportunities for all students BECAUSE of this diversity" (Moore, 2016)
This requires collaboration among staff in the school but also outside of the school. Everyone has their own expertise and when we collaborate it allows for more supports for the classes.