As someone who has spent years visiting schools to deliver Disability Awareness Assemblies, I’ve seen first hand how transformative inclusion can be. Not only does it help and support disabled children in mainstream schools, but it has a huge impact on every pupil who learns in an environment that values and accepts difference. Inclusion matters – a lot.
What Do We Mean By Inclusion?
It’s tempting to think of inclusion as providing physical access but it’s so much more than that. It’s about creating an environment where every child is recognised as capable, valuable and worthy of participation. It’s about adapting teaching styles, classroom environments and social structures so that everyone feels equal and involved.
Why It Matters
I firmly believe that by educating children as early as possible in inclusion and diversity, we’re shaping their attitudes early and therefore building an inclusive future. Inclusive education promotes empathy, respect and teamwork – the skills we should want our future leaders to have.
As a disabled child in a mainstream school, I didn’t always feel as if I belonged. No-one ever explained my disability to my classmates and the school leadership weren’t enthusiastic about my presence. Inclusive education helps disabled pupils to feel seen and that they matter just as much as their peers. That sense of belonging supports emotional wellbeing and academic confidence.
Inclusion matters in schools because it prepares pupils for life – the working world is diverse and schools that model inclusive practice help future employers to embrace and celebrate difference. When I first started looking for employment, I soon realised that the biggest barrier to me securing work was sadly, my disability. Many employers were simply unwilling to see beyond my physical impairments and see the value which I could bring to their organisations. By encouraging children to embrace difference and inclusion now, they develop into adults who are eager to challenge bias, uplift marginalised voices and see the potential in every individual. These future leaders be confident in building workplace environments that promote accessibility, fairness, dignity and opportunities for everyone.
Stories That Stay With Us
Having delivered many assemblies where children have asked really thoughtful questions, challenged assumptions and engaged thoroughly with me, it’s clear they are walking away with a new understanding on what disability and inclusion means. In alternative provision settings, I’ve worked with smaller groups of older students and you can see how they’re reflecting on barriers they hadn’t ever considered before. That spark – of awareness, curiosity and acceptance – is where change begins. Personally, it gives me hope that the future can be brighter for disabled people.
Inclusion Isn’t Optional. It’s Essential.
If we want a future that’s fair, we must start in the places where futures are shaped. That means embedding inclusive practice into every part of school. It mustn’t be a tick box exercise but a real commitment to an inclusive future. That’s why inclusion matters.