Inclusion
The model of ‘special’ education (in a separate environmental setting) not only deprives students with special needs of full access to the curriculum but also interaction with same-aged peers. With the advent of inclusive education, a school’s resources can be used more efficiently by maximizing the availability of staff and materials for all students, equally. Inclusion programs provide a stimulating environment, as well as assessment and observation tools.
What is inclusion?
Inclusion is a philosophy and an educational approach that offers all students equal opportunities for academic and social accomplishments. This setting can be done in age appropriate class groups, where everyone will benefit from education in mainstream schools. This environment allows parents, teachers, and others to work collaboratively using appropriate resources to understand and interpret the needs and abilities of all students.
The inclusion program at Learning Skills Academy offers a multidisciplinary treatment approach delivered by experts in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis, Special Education, Inclusion Specialists, Speech & Language Pathology & Occupational Therapy. The team works on implementing behavioral strategies, adapting and implementing curriculum, differentiating instruction, and targeting individual needs based on IEP goals.
The inclusion program includes –
Curriculum Adaptations :
To ensure that every student receives access to education based on his/her current skill level. The curriculum is differentiated for the different needs within the classroom.
Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy :
The Speech & Language Therapist (SLT) and the Occupational Therapist work closely with the Inclusion classroom teacher to ensure progress levels for students working in pairs or individually. Progress is monitored and documented through regular meetings with the child, parents, and the Inclusion Teacher.
Individualized Educational Plan(IEP) :
After observing the students across all areas and subjects, the annual goals are set. IEP meetings are conducted once/term. In this meeting, academic goals and baselines (focus on developmental areas of need which overlap with educational goals) are thoroughly reviewed. The meeting is based on the results and conclusions determined by the various assessment methods.
Behavior Modification :
Depending upon the goals and objectives set for each student, parent feedback, and classroom observation, a behavior plan is designed for each student with behavioral problems and difficulties. The behavior plan is shared with the mainstream teacher, who will also follow the same behavioral methodologies to ensure consistency and generalization in behavior modification.
Environmental Accommodations :
Providing quiet, non-visually stimulating areas allow children with special needs to concentrate better. Visual instructions featuring images, drawings, scientific objects, etc. are employed, particularly with younger children.
Social Skills :
Students with special needs are taught in a regular education school alongside “neurotypical” developing peers, to learn and develop social skills. Continuous support and attention is given to each child keeping their specific needs in mind. Different strategies and methods of communication are combined, for all the children to have common and understanding.
Advantages of inclusion programs for students :-
1. Helps build meaningful friendships
2. Increases social initiations, networks, and relationships
3. Helps in building social and behavioral skills, along with building peer role models for learning enhancement and academic skill acquisition
4. Increases access to general curriculum
5. Enhances skill acquisition and generalization along with curriculum adaptations
6. Creates opportunities for interaction and social skill developments
7. Increases acceptance and appreciation of individual differences
8. Prepares all students for adult life in an inclusive society
9. Opportunities to master activities by practicing and teaching others
Reinforcement is a consequence that strengthen behavior. To strengthen a behavior means to increase the likelihood that it will occur again in the future. You are hungry, and you said “give me cookie” and mother delivers you a cookie, so mother delivering you a cookie is a consequence to you saying “give me cookie”. And this consequence increases the likelihood that you will say “give me cookie” more in future whenever hungry. Your phone beeps and you see it’s a message from a friend. You tap to open the message and it’s a funny video that makes you laugh. In the future when the same friend contacts you, you tap to open their message. When it comes to behaviour, positive and negative do not mean good and bad. They simply mean to add and take away. Positive means adding something that you like to the environment and negative reinforcement as they remove or stop something you don’t like from happening. Both positive and negative reinforcement increase the likelihood of a response occurring in the future. The following guidelines explain how to apply reinforcement effectively when working to teach new behaviours. Make it Immediate: The longer you wait the less effective it is. Make it Social: Any interaction without the use of gifts that lets the performer know they are valued. Pair tangible with praise Make it Personal: Reinforcement must mean something to the person receiving it. Make it Earned: It must be contingent on some accomplishment.