The inclusive education approach recommends that a student with specific challenges and needs shares most of his or her school time with peers of a similar age and, who, for the most part, are children without special needs.

The approach of inclusion, however, involves more than just having the student with special needs evolve within a regular classroom with or without additional support. The implementation of an IEP, the involvement of an interdisciplinary team, the participation of an attendant, the efforts of a technician, the constant communication with parents and caregivers, and the use of different strategies and new technologies are integral and must be a part of the multiple efforts used to accommodate a child with special needs.

Why, then, should we support this approach, one that was not popular before the 1970’s, but has become the most popular educational philosophy of the 21st Century? The inclusive education approach should be applied within all sectors of the system for a variety of reasons.

First, it is our social responsibility to ensure that all children experience acceptance and respect regardless of their socio-economic background, ethnicity, or intellectual challenges. This responsibility extends to every individual in our community. Second, given that most human behaviours are learned by imitation, there are clear social advantages for children with special needs to be able to learn from 'regular' children. Within this scenario, children with special needs are able to learn to communicate, play, and socialize in more effective ways as they observe and interact with 'regular' children, who essentially serve as their role models. Third, inclusive education also has advantages for the child who does not have special needs. Compassion, acceptance, and respect for children with limitations are more easily learned through interactions with them. In addition, ‘regular’ children also become more aware and conscious of the fact that everyone, to some degree, has differences and limitations.

In a successful inclusive classroom, the child with special needs is embraced by teachers and classmates. Although making large changes in the classroom to accommodate children with special needs may be a daunting task for both teachers and professionals alike, remarkable success can be attained with even the smallest of adaptations or modifications. For some children, for example, reducing noise levels by placing tennis balls at the end of chair legs can have a tremendous impact on effective learning. In another case, the adaptation could be as simple as providing proper lighting, or reorganizing desks within the classroom. Giving the special needs child the opportunity to learn alongside his/her peers within the optimum environment of an inclusive classroom can make a tremendous difference in a student’s life.

Contribute to improving education by sharing the benefits of inclusive education with others.