However, inclusion is not simply placing students with disabilities into a regular classroom. Rather, inclusion is a schoolwide philosophy and system of instructional practices that customize the learning experiences of every student— regardless of ability level or ethnic, linguistic, and economic background. The REACH inclusion model emphasizes the concept that “all means all” and enables every student to access the same academic and social emotional curricula and to meet rigorous academic and behavioral expectations.
Inclusion Benefits All Students
In addition, learning side-by-side with diverse peers encourages REACH students to develop empathy and compassion, to understand multiple perspectives, and to solve problems collaboratively. In short, all REACH students learn better because they are learning together.
Transdisciplinary Collaboration Makes Inclusion Work
However, this approach requires a high degree of collaboration among general and special education teachers and multiple service providers in order to create support plans that are highly integrated with instruction. To this end, REACH has established Transdisciplinary Teaching Teams to provide coordinated and integrated services. With leadership from a child’s case manager, the team members step out of their individual specialties and collaborate across their respective disciplinary boundaries, including with parents, to develop a shared vision and the most coherent interventions and holistic service delivery plans for each child.