Inclusion is defined as: "all students are presumed competent, are welcomed as valued members of all general education classes and extra-curricular activities in their school, fully participate and learn alongside their same age peers in general education instruction based on the general education curriculum, and experience reciprocal social relationships."
When we are facilitating inclusion, we want to make sure that we are actually facilitating inclusion.
Numerous studies show positive effects of inclusion, including:
• higher expectations for student learning
• improved communication and social skills
• more satisfying and diverse social relationships
• improved academic outcomes in ELA and math
• better quality IEPs
• improved outcomes in education, employment, and independent living.
