What I like about this article is it flips how we view inclusion of students with disability (or at least my view). The normal perspective is that innovation is needed to promote inclusion in the classroom (ie hearing aids can help students with hearing difficulties). However, what is needed is the idea of inclusion to not only support innovation directly, but to support others who would otherwise not be able to reach their full potential. We don't have to look further from Einstein, Beethoven, and Stephen Hawking to see true innovators who all have disabilities in some way. Imagine
The second part of this article that really intrigued me can be summarized by the quote:
"We train educators to teach the norm"
This (in lack of a better word) sucks. Mainly because it's true. It's hard when society gives us perceptions of "normal" students, how "normal" students learn, and how "normal" students behave. How can we expect to teach anything different? Well think of that 1 amazing teacher we all had in high school. The one that did something different. The one that geeks and gangsters alike adored and listened to. They didn't teach the norm. So why should we?
And this is why I love Education courses so far. We question ourselves and convention on a weekly basis. What I hope happens is that this teaches us, as future educators, to do this on our own constantly in schools. Question inclusivity issues. Question our own practices. Question our own bias. Because so far, thats been the best thing that we can do before we have our own classroom and even after we have established ourselves as professionals. It's always time to grow, especially in a growing world that requires inclusivity.
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