Inclusive culture in schools transforms communities | Heidi Heissenbuttel | TEDxMileHigh

Summary

This script envisions a transformative educational system that embraces neurodiversity and inclusivity, challenging traditional models that favor conformity. It advocates for a culture where all learners, regardless of their abilities, are valued and supported. The speaker highlights the historical marginalization of children with disabilities and the detrimental effects of standardized testing on educators and students. She introduces successful inclusive education models that enhance academic outcomes for all and emphasizes the importance of culture, curriculum, and collaboration in creating effective inclusive learning environments.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The vision of inclusive culture is to have schools that embrace children with diverse thoughts and behaviors, recognizing their unique contributions.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Inclusive education considers children who learn differently as having special rights, valuing their individual needs and potentials.
• 🛠️ Educators require a comprehensive set of tools and strategies to effectively meet the varied learning needs of all students in their classrooms.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Families should be seen as equal partners in their child's education, fostering a collaborative approach to learning.
• 🔀 The goal is a true convergence of abilities in classrooms, which can lead to a paradigm shift in how we perceive and interact with the world.
• ⏳ The roots of our educational system are tied to the Industrial Revolution, which initially aimed to produce competitive learners but may not fully meet the demands of the 21st-century workforce.
• 🚫 Current educational expectations often focus on conformity, such as sitting still and attentiveness, which can be detrimental to children who don't fit these norms.
• 🏫 Pre-school has the highest expulsion rate, which can negatively impact a child's sense of belonging and future academic and social success.
• 🔍 The standardized testing system puts immense pressure on educators, leading to isolation and a focus on test scores over holistic learning.
• 📚 The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1974 was a milestone in ensuring educational rights for children with disabilities, yet many still experience segregation in learning environments.
• 🌐 The neurodiversity movement and inclusive education models are showing promising results, with increased academic outcomes for all students when diversity is celebrated and accommodated.

Q & A

What is the vision of inclusive culture as described in the script?

The vision of inclusive culture is a school environment where children with the most diverse thoughts and behaviors are recruited, children who learn differently are considered with special rights, educators have all the necessary tools and strategies, families are viewed as equal partners, and there is a true convergence of all abilities promoting a change in the way we think about the world.

How does the script suggest that the current education system is counterproductive to the demands of the 21st-century workforce?

The script suggests that the current education system is counterproductive because it focuses on high academic achievement and competitive test scores, which may not align with the skills needed for the 21st-century workforce, such as creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.

What is the correlation mentioned between a sense of belonging and academic achievement?

The script states that a sense of belonging is correlated with intellectual achievement and our sense of health, implying that when students feel they belong, they are more likely to achieve academically and have a better sense of well-being.

Why does the script mention the expulsion rate in pre-schools?

The script mentions the expulsion rate in pre-schools to highlight the issue of children being expelled at a young age when they are just learning to separate from their parents and socialize, which can lead to a lack of sense of belonging and negatively impact their future participation in the classroom.

How does the script describe the historical treatment of children with disabilities in the education system?

The script describes the historical treatment of children with disabilities as one of segregation and institutionalization, with a shift towards inclusion only after significant legal and social changes, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1974.

What is the 'school-to-prison pipeline' mentioned in the script, and how is it related to suspensions and expulsions?

The 'school-to-prison pipeline' refers to the pattern where children who are suspended or expelled are more likely to eventually drop out of school and/or end up in jail. The script relates this to the higher likelihood of children with disabilities being suspended or expelled.

What are the three effective practices that Dr. William Henderson suggests for the effectiveness of inclusive education?

Dr. William Henderson suggests that the three effective practices for inclusive education are culture, curriculum, and collaboration. Culture involves creating an environment where all learners belong and contribute, curriculum involves universal design to cater to all learners, and collaboration involves partnering educators with specialists to enrich the learning experience.

How does the script propose to address the isolation felt by educators?

The script proposes addressing the isolation felt by educators through collaborative teaming, where they are partnered with specialists like speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, and counselors, to enrich the classroom experience and support all learners.

What is the potential impact of inclusive education on the academic outcomes for all children, as mentioned in the script?

The script mentions that inclusive education models have shown to increase academic outcomes for all children by creating an environment where diverse abilities are valued and all students can learn, belong, and thrive.

How does the script connect the concept of neurodiversity with the idea of universal design in education?

The script connects neurodiversity with universal design by suggesting that recognizing the inherent diversity in classrooms and celebrating it leads to the development of curricula that are accessible and beneficial to all learners, from the highest to the lowest performers.

What role does technology play in inclusive education according to the script?

According to the script, technology, despite its underutilization, can play a significant role in inclusive education by providing tools like iPads, note takers, and audio books that help children with different learning needs access meaningful content.