How?
In this section you will learn how you can advocate for a more inclusive education.
Video: Selinä’s experiences on advocacy
Learning task
Watch the video and consider:
- What kind of challenges has Selinä faced in her advocacy work?
- How can we ensure persons with disabilities can fully participate in politics and advocacy work?
How can you advocate for a more inclusive education?
Ideas for students
- advocate for policy change
- participate in politics
- collaborate with persons with disabilities themselves as stakeholders
- work with societal actors such as disability rights organizations (OPD’s), NGOs, and other advocacy groups working towards inclusive education
- educate your peers
- share personal stories
Ideas for teachers and other professionals
- Recognize the need for individualized support for students with disabilities. This includes considering the unique learning needs, strengths, and challenges of each student. This could also involve assistive technologies, adapted teaching methods, or additional assistance from support staff.
- Work together with teachers, parents, students, and support staff to identify and address the unique needs of students with disabilities. Effective communication and collaboration contribute to a more inclusive educational experience supporting the unique needs of their children.
- Create a barrier-free physical and social environment. This includes building an atmosphere that promotes positive attitudes and understanding among students and educators.
- Use Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to improve learning for all people. UDL is a framework that promotes designing educational environments and materials to be accessible to all students, regardless of their abilities or disabilities.
- Make curriculum accessible to all learners. This may involve adapting materials, using diverse teaching methods, and incorporating universal design principles to ensure that every student can engage with the content.
- Challenge and change societal attitudes towards persons with disabilities. Promotes an understanding that diversity enriches the educational experience for everyone and contributes to building a more inclusive society.
- Search for training and professional development on inclusive teaching practices. This includes strategies for adapting materials, differentiating instruction, and creating accessible learning environments.
The 4As framework helps to develop effective learning environment for everyone
The "4As" of education is a framework that emphasizes four key elements essential for effective teaching and learning on all types and levels of education. These elements are:
- Availability: Availability refers to the physical presence of educational opportunities and resources. It emphasizes the importance of ensuring that educational facilities, materials, and opportunities are accessible to all individuals, regardless of their background, location, or circumstances. This includes ensuring the availability of schools, classrooms, textbooks, and other necessary resources for learning.
- Accessibility: Accessibility focuses on removing barriers that may prevent individuals from accessing educational opportunities. This includes physical barriers, such as inaccessible buildings or transportation, as well as non-physical barriers, such as discrimination, stigma, or lack of accommodations for persons with disabilities. Accessibility involves ensuring that education is inclusive and equitable, and that all individuals have the opportunity to participate and succeed in learning.
- Acceptability: Acceptability emphasizes the importance of education that is culturally relevant, inclusive, and responsive to the needs and preferences of learners and communities. It recognizes that education should respect diverse cultural identities, languages, beliefs, and values, and should be tailored to meet the unique needs and interests of individual learners. Acceptability also involves ensuring that education is free from discrimination, violence, or any form of harm.
- Adaptability: Adaptability highlights the need for education systems and practices that are flexible, responsive, and able to adapt to changing circumstances and needs. It emphasizes the importance of innovation, creativity, and continuous improvement in education, as well as the ability to respond to emerging challenges, such as technological advancements, globalization, or environmental changes. Adaptability involves creating dynamic and responsive educational environments that support lifelong learning and skill development.
The 4As framework highlights the interconnected nature of availability, accessibility, acceptability and adaptability in promoting equitable and inclusive education for all individuals. By addressing these elements comprehensively, educators and policymakers can work towards ensuring that every learner has the opportunity to succeed in education. The 4A-framework has been developed by Katarina Tomaševski, the former UN Special Rapporteur on the right to education and founder of the Right to Education Initiative. Read more: UNESCO Right to education handbook, pp. 76–78.
Learning task
What are the different challenges in terms of the 4 As: availability, accessibility, acceptability and adaptability faced at each level of education in your country?
VIDEO: Selinä’s methods of advocacy
Learning task
Watch the video and consider/discuss:
- What methods of influence has Selinä used?
- What kind of challenges might persons with disabilities face in your country or city in making their voice heard and influencing the issues they care about?
Video: Project worker Matilda on how to arrange inclusive activities for girls and young women with disabilities
Learning task
Watch the video and consider:
- Consider which of the tips presented in the video you find most useful for ensuring that everyone can participate as they are.
Video: Selinä, Samuel and Elina on student guidance.
Learning task
Watch the video and consider:
- Having heard the views of Selinä, Samuel and Elina, what are the top 3 recommendations you would have for a study counsellor who is counselling students with disabilities?
- Why do you consider these things important?
Best practices for promoting inclusive education for students with disabilities
- ”Nothing about us without us”: Always engage persons with disabilities in planning and implementing action aimed at improving their position, such as promoting inclusive education.
- Develop individualized education plans and support plans for students with disabilities, based on their unique strengths, needs, and preferences.
- Foster a culture of respect, acceptance, and belonging within the school community. Challenge stereotypes and stigma, and celebrate diversity and inclusion in all aspects of school life.
- Use a variety of instructional strategies that accommodate diverse learning needs and preferences. Offer alternative formats for presenting information, such as visual aids, audio recordings, or tactile materials, to ensure that all students can access the curriculum.
- Regularly monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of inclusive education initiatives, policies, and practices. Collect data on student outcomes, participation rates, and satisfaction levels to identify areas for improvement.
- Empower students to take an active role in promoting inclusivity and disability awareness within their school community. Encourage student-led initiatives, such as disability awareness campaigns, inclusive clubs or groups, and advocacy projects.
- Engage in reflective practice as an educator, regularly reflecting on your teaching practices, attitudes, and biases towards disability and inclusion. Seek feedback from students, colleagues, and mentors, and continuously strive to improve your inclusive teaching strategies and approaches.
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