Our Technology and Universal Design for Learning class recently heard two great presentations from Nancy Kawaja and Luis Perez. They are both people living with disabilities who use their personal experiences to advocate for themselves and others. Their expertise in the areas of special education and inclusive learning combined with their own struggles with accessibility and inclusion make them excellent resources for teachers who want to fully include all of their students in each lesson.
Luis reminded us of a fact that, as special education students, we've heard time and time again: one size fits none. This quote speaks volumes to the necessity for teaching practices such as Universal Design for Learning. If we present every student in our classes with a singular version of our lesson plan - a version that has no room for variability or choice - then we are doing a disservice to each and every one of them. Students need to be able to show their understanding at their appropriate level in a way that works for them. If we expect all of our students to fit the same mold, then we will never see their full potential.
Nancy said something that really spoke to me. "Accessibility is sort of like being asked to join the party, and inclusion is being asked to dance." This quote really highlights the connection between accessibility and inclusion, but it also lets the listener know that accessibility is not the final step in the equation. Imagine being granted access to a party and then ignored for the duration of the event because the other party-goers were not prepared to actually include you in the festivities. You would sit over to the side, feeling bored and neglected and waiting to go home. It is not enough for us to just make classes and resources available for our students with special needs; we need to teach them to use these resources effectively to enhance their communication and participation, and we need to plan for ways to make these interactions relevant in our classrooms.
Hello Tyler! I loved that quote from Nancy too--"Accessibility is sort of like being asked to join the party, and inclusion is being asked to dance." When I first learned how to write lesson plans in college, we had to included an accommodations/adaptations section. I am now realizing that this was never enough. Inclusion means that you take all of those modifications one step further and just make it a part of what you do. Every. Single. Day. Other students will not see your teaching any anything different, and less children will feel left out. Here is a great article on how to make inclusion a priority from day one: https://www.brighthubeducation.com/classroom-management/13768-creating-an-inclusive-classroom-culture/ I love the ideas of teaching tolerance and acceptance. Sometimes I think we forget that those things need to be taught, and are not automatically known.
ReplyDeleteHi Tyler,
ReplyDeleteBoth quotes you have sited from Louis and Nancy speak volumes. I often think of them and how appropriate they are for my students. They help those who do not work or understand the needs of others connect. When I am training staff for my classroom, I think these would be good references to speak.