Inclusion in ACE

“presence without participation can be more isolating than no presence at all”
Quass & Fraser “Beyond the Ramp” report 1994 p 44.

What do we mean by the term inclusion?

Put simply, inclusion is an approach to the way we plan and operate our services that ensures every person, regardless of age; sex, disability or nationality can participate to the same extent in all facets of life, education included.

Inclusion is also a goal and a philosophy that is being promoted in many countries including Australia in an effort to create healthier and more caring communities.

Inclusion vs integration in education provision.

Inclusion is often confused with integration. Integration involves adapting people to meet practices and systems to suit a provider. This may mean specialised classes or segregated group activities outside of mainstream classes.

Inclusion involves adjusting curriculum, assessment practices systems, teaching styles and the physical environment to allow all people to participate equally. The emphasis is on the provider making changes to enable the student to participate fully in all classroom and other activities.

What is inclusive education?

Inclusive education is of providing for the needs of all students. An inclusive education provider is welcoming and flexible and plans their educational programs and the learning environment to fit every person into every activity. This means nobody is turned away from any provider and individuals, regardless of their level of ability, can access all programs and activities available to others.

This philosophy is reflected in relevant federal and state policies and forms part of the requirements to most funding agreements.

The benefits of an inclusive approach for the ACE sector.

• Compliance with government funding & service agreement requirements of inclusiveness
• Recognition as a quality provider
• Richer and more diverse participant group
• Providing people who may have limited options a valuable opportunity to gain education, socialise or be involved in community projects
• Additional participants may provide new source of volunteers or committee of management personnel
• Additional participants may be a catalyst for skill development in staff and volunteers
• Personal enrichment through working and learning from diverse groups
• Good for business

Inclusion tips for ACE providers.

1. Be open and welcoming to all. Reflect this in all your policies and practices – which should be accessible and on view.
2. Discuss the individuals needs.
3. Obtain disability awareness training for yourself, your committee of management, your volunteers and all your staff including administration staff whether or not they teach people with a disability.
4. Gather resources and develop a Disability Action Plan focusing on inclusion.
5. Develop partnerships that support inclusive practices such as local disability organisations.
6. Invite people with disabilities as full participating members onto your committee of management, and other planning and decision making forums, remembering that they might have support needs.
7. Identify areas of improvement addressing access awareness.
8. Locate local community supports e.g. Metro and Rural Access Workers.
9. Access the support and assistance provided by the ACE Disability Network.
10. Commit to developing a Disability Action Plan with a focus on inclusion.

Above all attitude can be the greatest barrier to inclusion and often requires a creative shift in thinking rather than large financial expenditure.

Resources that promote inclusion.

Making your centres truly inclusive takes planning, time, skill and equipment. With this in mind the ACE DisAbility Network has compiled a resource guide to support inclusion of people with disabilities in ACE. Entitled “Disability Training and Resource Options for the ACE sector.”

Resources and inclusion websites.

• The Person Centred Learning Service provides a range of learning and development resources and training for professionals and volunteers working with people with disabilities.
• Inclusion.com has great information, tools and resources supporting inclusive practice.
• The Inclusion Research Institute website contains information about innovations, resources and other initiatives to assist the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of life.
• The Institute for Community Inclusion contains publications and resource materials on inclusive strategies in all spheres of life including education.
• Inclusion Distribution offers a broad range of merchandise around inclusion in an effort to promote the concept and practice of inclusion. Everything from Books, training videos, t-shirts and key rings etc are available for purchase.