Part 3 of our Inclusion Advice series
Benefits of inclusion
Part 1: Members share what inclusion in schools means for their children
Parents found their children had many positive experiences and learning opportunities during their school years when they were included in mainstream classrooms and other extracurricular programs. Some also mentioned that their children’s classmates also benefitted from their presence in their classrooms.
- “We began to see the benefits of our daughter attending regular classes, she was happy and thriving, really enjoying school. Our daughter also built a network, of friends and family and a whole community that supported her. She was where she belonged!”
- “By being part of a regular class, our son did not experience bullying, hatred, or prejudice. He did not have his disability define him. Today, he is enthusiastic about doing new things, getting out, and enjoying life.”
- “One of the most important things my child brought forward from school into adult life is the feeling of belonging, having the self-confidence and respect from others to move forward and partake in whatever life has to offer.”
- “I believe that my son learned age-appropriate behaviours that have allowed him to participate better in the community. He has lots of recognition in the community. Everywhere he goes, people know him! I also strongly believe that my son’s inclusion changed the way people see persons with disabilities and that it will impact their lives forever in a positive way.”
- “Just being in the regular classroom, even with its flaws, and occasional periods of loneliness, gave Alison a sense of self as a whole person. It gave her independence and the ability to choose her own path and be herself. Wherever the others were, that’s where she would be, so she got to do things like rock concerts and dance clubbing. For the past 19 years, she’s been living in her own apartment downtown without any agency help. She’s had several career iterations, including dessert caterer and abstract artist. Her broad experiences growing up, being encouraged to take calculated risks, the independence she was afforded like her typical peers, even in the periods with fewer friends, have given her the skills and inner strength to live on her own.”
- “I strongly believe that Nicolas’s bilingualism is a result of the support of an ESL teacher and attending classes with peers without a disability.”
- “Being known and valued in the community and at the school gives the protection of being part of things. The development of flexibility by being together with other students is a good character trait to have into adult life.”
- “The one thing that was most valuable in his school age experience was having teachers and friends in school who also believed in him. There were those who respected and accepted his differing abilities and showed an appreciation and, even in some cases, an admiration for him. When he became one of them, he belonged. When he belonged, he achieved success.”
- “We valued the communication skill development and social experiences with friends, as well as opportunities to learn advanced educational skills such as those experienced in English classes and geography – my daughter’s two favourite classes. She even became skilled enough to complete final exams, using augmentative communication along with adapted exam question presentation (oral rather than written).”
- “Our son now gravitates towards people and opportunities that have expectations and strives for independence.”
- “We appreciated having our daughter experience self-esteem, pride, and accomplishment. She experienced this through relationships and schoolwork.”
- “I think our son’s presence in school was as important for him as it was for the other students. They would have those experiences to draw on in adulthood.”
- “Alison did violin and ballet for years. Contrary to what other parents told me about how she wouldn’t be wanted anywhere, I have found, on balance, that the world is a pretty good place.”
Names have been changed to ensure privacy. Some responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity. We are grateful to the dedicated parents who shared their experiences and guidance with other families by participating in this survey.
