What is inclusion ?

A short video produced by Down Syndrome Queensland in conjunction with Griffith Film School and Pullenvale State School. The 4-minute video showcases the difference between integration, perceived inclusion, and true inclusion in a classroom environment.
The vignettes are staged to demonstrate the differences between integration, perceived inclusion, and true inclusion. Pullenvale State School is itself well on the journey to true inclusion and kindly participated in this video to help grow the understanding of what schools should be striving for.
For more information and resources from Down Syndrome Educational support, visit https://www.downsyndromeqld.org.au/education-support-1

[What is inclusion?]

[Integration]

I don't understand
why I'm at the back of the class.

I wish it was like everyone else.

I want to do what they do.

But here I am,

doing the same old number activity,

watching as my classmates
learn something else.

Don't they know that they're
setting me up to fail?

Don't they know they hold
my future in their hands?

I want to work in my class,

learn what they are learning
and do the activities they do.

But here I am, stuck at the back,
limited by low expectations,

Having a one-on-one teacher aide
just teaches me to rely on them

and means I get less attention
from the teacher.

I am not included in the classroom.

I am in the same room
but segregated from my peers,

sat to the side or back, working
on different things and missing out.

I want to be free to learn with my peers,

reach my full potential and be seen
to be like everyone else.

I need something to change.

[Perceived inclusion]

You may be wondering
what is wrong with this picture?

I'm in the classroom with my peers,
sitting in my seat,

learning the same things
as everyone else.

You may think that this is inclusion,

but it's not.

I am stiffled, limited and held back
from reaching my full potential.

Though I love my teacher aide,
I don't get to think for myself.

In fact, a lot of the time,
my teacher aide does it for me,

even whispering the answer
in my ear when I already know it.

The more she is with me,

the more I realise that there is no point
in me thinking for myself

because she will give me
the answer anyway.

I'm sure there are other kids
who also need her help.

Does she need to be with me?

Can't she help others?

Surely if I need help,

I can put my hand up and ask
my teacher like my friends do.

My friends and classmates want to help me

but by having someone
right next to me, they can't.

I need to learn from my peers

be able to do group work
and be challenged.

I want to be allowed to fail
or succeed and learn from it.

I need something to change.

[Inclusion]

Can you find me in the crowd?

Inclusion is more than just a word,

it is a culture, a mindset

and an expectation that everyone can
and will learn and succeed

along their age-appropriate peers.

I know it can be challenging
to include me in the learning

as sometimes I might require
extra resources and information,

but giving me space to learn
from my teacher and peers

is the best way to challenge me
and allow me to grow.

I want to learn the same things
as my classmates,

and I want teachers to have the same
expectations of me as of my friends.

My learning may need to be modified,

but I still want the opportunity
to show what I can do,

not focus on what I can't.

Treat me the same as any other student
and watch me flourish,

I will rise the challenge
of the expectations you set for me.

Are you ready to really include me?

Subtitles by Juliana Ponesi
Review by Carol Wang