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 is inclusion?

Inclusion is the process whereby every person (irrespective of age, disability, gender, religion, sexual preference or nationality) who wishes to can access and participate fully in all aspects of an activity or service in the same way as any other member of the community.

Inclusion requires time, space, effort and resources but it creates a society which is:

Fairer
More cohesive
Richer.

Inclusion vs integration in education provision

Inclusion is often confused with integration. Integration means the physical presence of a person with a disability in an educational setting. This may mean specialised classes or segregated group activities outside of mainstream classes. It can also mean a person with a disability being in a mainstream class but having a separate program or not enjoying the same social and learning outcomes as other class members.

What is inclusive education?

"There is a world of difference between, on the one hand, offering courses of education and training and then giving some students who have learning difficulties (intellectual disability) some additional human or physical aids to gain access to those courses, and, on the other hand, redesigning the very processes of learning, assessment and organisation so as to fit the objectives and learning styles of the student. But only the second philosophy can claim to be inclusive."
Inclusive Learning, Report on Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities Committee, UK 1996

Inclusive education is accessible by all – people are not turned away.

Inclusive education 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. This is now a legislative requirement for all adult education providers under the Education Standards 2005 and forms part of the requirements to most funding agreements.

Most adult education providers are warm and welcoming, but inclusion may also require:

Non discriminatory enrolment practices. This often involves discussion with the person concerned (not just their referring agency) as to what outcomes they are expecting and what they will require to achieve these outcomes
Adjustments to learning tools (e.g large print texts, adaptive computer technology)
Assessment of individual learning styles and allowances for a different learning tempo
Consideration of social strategies

The benefits of an inclusive approach for the ACE sector

By adopting an inclusive approach to education you can gain:

recognition as a quality provider
a richer and more diverse participant group
compliance with government funding & service agreement requirements
the satisfaction of providing people with often limited options a valuable opportunity to gain education, socialise or be involved in community projects
new participants who may be a fresh source of volunteers or committee of management personnel
new participants who are a catalyst for skill development in staff and volunteers
personal enrichment through working and learning from diverse groups
increased business.

Inclusion tips for ACE providers

Be open and welcoming to all. Reflect this in all your policies and practices – which should be accessible and on view.
Discuss the individual’s needs and expectations with them personally.
Obtain disability awareness training for yourself, your committee of management, your volunteers and all your staff, whether or not they teach people with a disability. Contact your local council or the ACE Disability Network for information on how to find suitable training
Gather resources: publications such as PALS (Inclusion Melbourne), The Inclusive Communities Manual (ANHLC) have been developed specifically for adult education providers
Develop partnerships with others that support inclusive practices such as local disability organisations.
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.
Locate local community supports e.g. Metro and Rural Access Workers at your local council offices and network with them regularly.
Access the support and assistance provided by the ACE Disability Network.
Develop a Disability Action Plan which includes inclusive practices and access and commit to implementing it.

Above all, attitude can be the greatest barrier to inclusion which 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: Disability Training and Resource Options for Training Providers.

Inclusion websites

Australian

CATS (Creating Accessible Teaching and Support) provides information, resources, publications and legislative details
Include Pty Ltd provides articles, resources and information

Overseas

NIACE promotes adult education in the UK. They have publications and downloads available. The following link concerns people with an intellectual disability:
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.