John Draper
Founder of Together We Rock!
www.togetherwerock.com
March 23, 2009
Making Equality Meaningful from a Student's Point Of View
Educators play an important role in making equality meaningful for a student who has a disability. Educators' beliefs must be rooted in a student's right to be educated with their peers, and they must be committed to the idea of inclusion. But educators must understand that just because a student is integrated into a classroom or school does not mean that he or she is included.
School staff can be instrumental in facilitating and encouraging the inclusion of students who have disabilities. For instance, teachers can ensure that students with disabilities are included in all classroom routines and activities. It is important for students with disabilities to follow, as much as possible, the same routines that the other members of the class follow. In my case, it was important for me to be seated in the classroom so that the teacher and my classmates could easily interact with me. I also appreciated the fact that my teacher and support staff encouraged me to enter and exit the room at the same time as my peers, which made me feel more part of the group. I had one teacher who made me feel included by including me in a music competition. Even though I could not sing, she encouraged me to quietly vocalize during the performance. I was so proud to be part of this class activity.
When making decisions for students who have a disability, educators must focus not on the disability but on learning how to accommodate and adapt programs so that the student can succeed. This focus on accommodation will often include effective problem solving in partnership with the student's team (parents, educational assistants and other professionals involved in the student's life). Educators need to establish positive working relationships with family members and other professionals and be aware of each others roles. There is no one solution that will fit every student. Educators and student teams must realize that if one thing doesn't work, something else probably will.
