Inclusion Benefits
How does inclusion benefit children without disabilities?
We often discuss inclusion from the perspective of children with disabilities and their families. But by its very nature, inclusion also involves typically developing children, and here, too, parents have questions.
Last week, a parent in Ohio emailed me the following: “My 4 year old is starting preschool at a school that integrates children with special needs into the classroom. My daughter does not have special needs, so I admit that I haven’t researched my question too intensely. However, I keep seeing that these inclusion programs have benefits to both kids with and without special needs, I can’t find any details. Can you send me any research on benefits of ‘inclusion programs’ to kids without special needs?”
On the one hand, there’s a straightforward answer. A recent research synthesis from the National Professional Development Center on Inclusion lists research studies that document how “inclusion can benefit all children, particularly with respect to their social development.”
Of course, families, teachers, principals, therapists, and other colleagues might respond to the question differently. What do you think the benefits of inclusion are – for young children, with and without disabilities, for families and for society?
benefits of inclusion
Why Promote Inclusion?
Children learn from each other. When they are exposed to inclusive environments starting at a young age, they learn acceptance of other people and that each person has unique abilities.
Benefits of inclusion for children with or without disabilities
§ Make friends
§ Learn by imitating others
§ Show more pride in achievements
§ Build interdependence and ability to deal with obstacles
§ Notice similarities between themselves and others
§ Develop better language and communications skills
§ Develop interpersonal skills
§ Increase problem-solving ability
§ Learn to become more assertive
§ Learn self-respect by being a part of a positive, typical environment
§ learn to accept others as they are
§ Develop patience and compassion
§ Learn to accept their own strengths and needs
§ Accept others as people, not “labels”
§ Learn to help others
Benefits of inclusion for families of children with special needs
§ Enable families to work because they have increased access to child care services
§ Discover that others can provide a secure and nurturing
§ Environment for the child with special needs
§ Learn to accept children’s strengths and needs.
§ Share common experiences
§ Feel a kinship with other families
§ Opportunity to see chronologically age-appropriate activities
Benefits of Inclusion for School-Age Care Providers
§ Develop networks of professional services and community resources
§ Expand their knowledge about special needs
§ Develop awareness that all people have unique needs
§ Create a setting that encourages understanding and flexibility
§ Realize and appreciate differences
§ Develop compassion, kindness and respect for others
Benefits of inclusion for children who are developing typically and their families
§ Children who do not have special needs continue to learn and grow the in same ways in which they did before they had classmates with special needs. In addition, they have opportunities to learn about differences in human growth and development. They learn to accept people who are different from themselves as they learn to work and play with children who have a wide range of abilities.
§ For families of children who are typically developing, the inclusive setting provides a concrete opportunity for teaching their children about differences in growth and development. Families might develop a greater understanding of people with special needs, become more sensitive to the needs of families with children who have disabilities, and become future advocates for community integration.