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Say NO to Labels
NO Stereotypes
NO Generic Services
Say YES to
Supporting
"Individuals"
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LET'S BE HEARD!
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If you
are not part of the solution...
then you are part of the problem! |
Together
we can raise our voices and bring issues about inclusion to the forefront
Together we can organize and take action to make change happen
You have the power to make a difference
Whether you think you can, or that
you can't, you are usually right
~Henry Ford ~
THE TIME TO DO
SOMETHING IS NOW!
Poor
supports and services; unqualified teachers and staff; lack of training;
lack of funding; lack of assistive technology; physical, social, and
attitudinal barriers are not acceptable! We know what the struggles are
for equal access and opportunities in education. We know it is possible
and probable that all children can be welcomed, embraced, supported and
accommodated in our schools. We know the real issues are the barriers
created by written and unwritten policies and procedures that treat
students with disabilities as second class citizens. We need to let the
world know loud and clear - this is not acceptable!
We're not gonna take it!
What are the problems?
-
Appropriate supports and services not
available in general education classes
-
Students with disabilities not considered
in decisions that affect all students
-
Teacher preparation not adequately
addressing inclusion of students with disabilities
-
Paraprofessionals not trained in
inclusion
-
Funding used as a reason for not
identifying and appropriately supporting a student's needs
-
Disability not considered when teaching
about diversity
-
Separation between general and special
education -- two systems
-
Lack of accountability and failure to
collect data objectively
-
Laws being disregarded for students with
disabilities
-
Policies and procedures that ignore
students with disabilities
-
Parents not informed about the
possibilities, laws and rights
-
Staff, parents, administrators,
government, and school boards uninformed about inclusion
-
Universal Design is rarely recognized or
considered
-
Low or no expectations for students with
disabilities
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Stereotyping by label and categorical
placements
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False perceptions that "children" must be
ready, instead of classes being ready for students
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Lack of Assistive Technology, related
services and information
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Little to no local interagency
collaboration
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Best practices for people with
disabilities is not brought into the general classes
 What
do we envision?
- An educational system that provides
equal access and opportunities for all students.
- A system that does on-going reflection
of how "it", and the people in it, can change to better meet all
student's needs by adjusting the learning environments, teaching
strategies, positive behavioral supports and technology.
- One educational system where special
education is a supporting part of education and not a separate system.
- The federal law, Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act, is actually implemented and people are held
accountable with direct repercussions if they fail to implement IEP's,
provide FAPE or appropriate supports and services.
- Children come first, and children with
disabilities are considered part of "all children" and are considered in
all
 decisions
about education.
- Schools that understand best practices
for people with disabilities and help children reach their potential by
utilizing their abilities.
- Children with disabilities are expected
to be educated with their peers, and schools, parents, and the community
understand how inclusion works and how it benefits all children and
society.
- Everyone working as a team and the
bottom line is utilizing solution oriented approaches for planning each
child's success.
- No child left behind, really means no
child left behind and no child left out.
16 Things You Can Do to Make a
Difference!
What can you do?
Do something!
Every effort leads to change. This is a process
not a once and done event.
Keep your efforts going and encourage others in the community to join you!
Nobody made a greater mistake than the
person
who did nothing because they could only do a little.
~ Edmund Burke ~
-
 Get
involved in the schools
- Insist that student's with disabilities
are a part of every decision for all students
- Ask to join the district's strategic
planning committee and/or action teams
- Start an inclusive education committee
- Create a loaner library with inclusion
information and materials
- Network with other families of children
with and without disabilities
- Attend school board meetings, provide
suggestions and informational materials
- Meet regularly with whoever in the
district will listen - superintendent, teacher, guidance counselor, etc.
- Work with the PTA on promoting inclusion
and sharing information
- Make sure people with disabilities are a
part of diversity lessons and celebrations
-
Bring in speakers about inclusion and diversity
Find a
list of the leaders in the field here!
- Encourage assemblies,
entertainers and performances that demonstrate diversity
- Write and/or meet with state and federal
directors of general and special education
- Join education coalitions for school
reform
- Write, call and/or visit your
local, state and federal legislators regularly. Let them hear your personal
stories. Thank them for their help. Let them know you are a voter!
- If they receive as little as 20 or more
contacts about an issue, it will get attention
- Imagine if inclusive education were the
attention of every legislator! We can do this!
- Since so few people write, one letter is
considered to represent thousands of opinions
- Get involved in drafting, commenting and
contributing to legislative proposals on education
-
 Your
experience is expertise, you can provide policymakers relevant
information
- Sign on to a petition demanding action
-write to staff@kidstogether.org
to list petitions here
-
Click here for links to find your representative's contact info
- Please submit sample letters to share
to staff@kidstogether.org
- Share inclusion success
stories with parents and professionals
- Support people with disabilities
in sharing their own experiences and stories
- Share inclusion fact sheets and information
- Join disability rights
organizations and activities to promote inclusion
- Make a difference in your own
community
- Call attention to inaccessibility -
Accessibility checklist (.pdf file requires Adobe)
- Speak out against ignorance
- Make suggestions for inclusion materials
at your local libraries
- Write to your local newspaper
- Speak or suggest speakers to other
organizations to spread the word about inclusion
- Rotary Clubs
- PTA's
- Church Groups
-
Suggested speakers
- Parents of children who are included
- Students included
- Adults with disabilities
-
 Model
inclusive practice
- Parents need to invite children with and
without disabilities to activities in their homes
- Families should welcome people with
disabilities in their activities and homes
- Share information about why you are
including your child and what your vision is
- Involve people with disabilities in your
community; invite them to participate in all aspects
- Promote disability sensitivity and
awareness
- Fight injustice
- Enlist others- This is not a
disability issue, its a society and educational issue
- Get family, friends and neighbors
involved
- Ask your church or community group to
become active
- Work with other groups interested in
improving education for all children
- Work with other groups interested in
children's issues
- Participate in advocacy and
leadership training
- Partners In Policymaking -
Courses in states
- Pennsylvania Partners (C2P2)
- Check Calendars of events and trainings
- Know the History...
(What they don't teach you in
school)
- The Present...
- Acknowledge good things
- Write thank-you's, give awards,
support good efforts
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