Inclusion Teacher

Awareness Through Education #5 What is Inclusion?

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of attending Lady Northcote Camp with the Year 5 cohort. On the last day I was faced with a common dilemma in education; how inclusive can I be?

I was assisting a group going on a bike ride and one particular student with ASD found the helmet strap to be annoying. I could see they were experiencing a high level of sensory discomfort, however we loosened the strap, improved the fit and although not perfect, we were able to proceed with the activity. 

Then it was time to choose a bike. Again, this caused the student some distress as the camp bikes looked and felt very different to their own. After some gentle encouragement and reassurance, we managed to adjust the seat and learn how to use the brakes. I could see the student was in the ‘yellow zone’ (anxious), but to their credit, committed to giving the task a go. 

Before we set off to ride, I looked at the student and could see the anxiety on their face. Suddenly I was worried too. Just as I was about to fall into the trap of projecting my anxiety on the student, resulting in clouded decision making, I weighed up my options….

Option 1 - Integration – Abort mission. Congratulate the student on getting on a bike and go to the games room for some quiet time. 

Option 2 – Perceived Inclusion – Go on a separate bike ride on flat ground. No peers, no hills and very few challenges. 

Option 3 – Inclusion – Complete the bike ride with the group. Ride at our own pace and provide assistance on steep hills and uneven ground. 

After a very tentative 30 minutes, the last part of the bike ride was pure joy. The student’s anxiety faded away and was replaced by an enormous sense of achievement. The group cheered as they headed down the final hill with a big smile their face. 

To channel Lance Armstrong, it wasn’t about the bike. It was about resilience. It was about trying new things. It was about going out of the comfort zone and trusting in others. 

We were so glad we chose option 3. An experience we won’t forget anytime soon. 

Below is a great video which might challenge your thinking. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VMz06iVzqs

Mr. Field

Inclusion Teacher