INCLUSION
‘Just Like You’ Incursions
Last week we welcomed Emma from ‘Just Like You’. ‘Just Like You’ are a free disability awareness program catering to school students in fun and interactive workshops. They are based in NSW so we were one of the lucky schools in Victoria to experience their sessions. ‘Just Like You’ is funded by Variety (the Children’s Charity) and focuses on educating students from years 1 to 8 to develop understanding, acceptance and inclusion of people with a disability, learning that people with a disability really are JUST LIKE YOU! The program addresses both visible and hidden disabilities, ensuring that students grasp the full spectrum of diversity and embrace inclusivity.
The sessions were:
Grade 1/2 – ‘Celebrating difference, creating inclusion’ – Students gained a fundamental understanding of why uniqueness is valued and should be celebrated. Students learned how to identify differences as a positive feature in their lives.
Concepts covered included:
- Understanding and including people with disabilities.
- We may have differences, but our physical and emotional needs are the same.
- Uniqueness and differences are positive.
Grade 3/4 – ‘Know the facts for better impact’ – Students were informed of the different forms of disabilities, including physical, invisible and sensory disabilities. Students learned how to empathise with challenges that people with disabilities may face, using positive language.
Concepts covered included:
- Understanding the varied causes and manifestations of disabilities.
- Empathising with challenges people with a disability face.
- Understanding the importance of positive language.
Grade 5/6 – ‘Challenging the norms to find the extraordinary’ – This workshop challenged pre-conceived ideas around disability. Students looked at their own role in society and their contribution to positive and negative mindsets and practised integrating alternative modes of communication and movement into their classroom environment.
Concepts covered included: - Removing emotional, physical and behavioural barriers that restrict opportunities.
- Learning different methods of communication.
Next newsletter, well share some student responses to this learning. Today we are sharing the infographics that have summarised our learning.
To learn more, please head to https://www.justlikeyou.org.au/
Inclusion Team
Virginnia Gilham & Sarah Jeffreys
