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National Inclusive Education Month: February 2014 – Recognition Award
What is inclusive education?
Inclusive education means ensuring that all students are educated with their peers, have equitable access to learning and achievement, and are welcomed, valued and supported in the education system. Inclusive education promotes participation, friendship and interaction.
How do we see the future in NL?
We see an inclusive education culture that celebrates and embraces uniqueness, has appropriate supports and resources, and provides equitable access to lifelong learning. Every child has the right to belong.
Why do we have a recognition award?
We highlight national inclusive education month to bring attention to the positive examples of inclusive classrooms, activities and schools in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) has created a national certificate of recognition to be bestowed upon recipients who have made positive contributions to inclusive education in each province and territory throughout Canada.
Who can be nominated?
The Community Inclusion initiative of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association for Community Living will award one recognition certificate in 2014. An individual (ex: teacher, student, principal), a school or post-secondary institution that are deemed worthy of the award for making a positive contribution to inclusive education are eligible to be nominated.
How do I nominate an individual and or school?
- Fill out the nomination form (CLICK HERE)
- Provide the required information
- Provide one letter of reference
- E-mail, fax or mail the nomination details to:
Sherry Gambin-Walsh
Executive Director, NLACL
P.O. Box 8414
St. John’s, NL
A1B 3N7
sherrygw@nlacl.ca
Fax: (709) 722-1325
Required Information
Inclusive education will be successful if the following practices are followed. Describe concrete examples of how these practices, promoting inclusive education are done.
- Accepting unconditionally all students into the regular class and the life of the school, including extra-curricular activities.
- Providing adequate and appropriate support to students, teachers and classrooms to ensure all students can participate in neighborhood schools and regular classes.
- Having high expectations of all students. Looking at students as equals in what they as individuals can do and uses words of dignity when referencing all individuals.
- Developing and/or promoting educational goals according to a student’s individual abilities while understanding that students do not need to have the same educational goals to learn together in regular classes.
- Restructuring schools and classes in a way that focuses on individual achievement and student learning (ex: developing class time tables to allow for more individual attention for all students).
- Indication of strong leadership for inclusion by administrators.
- Having teachers who are knowledgeable, understand and use instructional and classroom strategies so that students with varying abilities and strengths can learn together and achieve their individual potential.
- Having parents, teachers and administrators who work together to determine the most effective ways of providing a quality education in an inclusive environment.
- Fostering an atmosphere of belonging and respect in the learning community: school, regular classroom, post-secondary school environment.
Please submit a typed response. We are seeking applications that understand and practice true inclusion. One letter of reference is required to be considered for this award. NLACL can present the award at the recipient’s school and you will be presented with a Community Inclusion flag to display in your school. The 2014 winner will be announced by April 1.