Question

How does the presence of health and medical needs affect a student’s participation in community based instruction and inclusion?

Answer 1

Inclusion in education refers to a model wherein students with special needs spend most or all of their time with non-special (general education) needs students. It arise in the context of special education with an individualized education program or 504 plan, and is built on the notion that it is more effective for students with special needs to have said mixed experience for them to be more successful in social interactions leading to further success in life.

Inclusive education (when practiced well) is very important because: All children are able to be part of their community and develop a sense of belonging and become better prepared for life in the community as children and adults. It provides better opportunities for learning.

The Pillars are:

• Choice.
• Partnerships.
• Communications.
• Policies.
• Opportunities.
• Access.
• Attitude.

Impact of Chronic Health Conditions

The impact of a chronic health condition on learning will vary according to the disability. Students may be affected in the following ways:

• Some conditions leave students vulnerable to a wide range of infections and viruses, and frequent absenteeism owing to hospitalisation and/or medication changes may be the first indication that teaching staff have of the existence of a medical condition.
• There may be striking inconsistencies in performance. Some students may have difficulty persisting with tasks especially when physical discomfort is an issue. There may be intolerance to extremes of heat or light, and to some chemicals.
• Some medications may result in lethargy and difficulty with concentration. This may mean that students do not participate actively in tutorial discussions. Participation may also be affected when energy levels are low and for those whose speech is affected by the disability.
• Mood swings and depression may be associated with chronic health conditions.
• Students may sometimes exhibit extreme anxiety, particularly if there is a history of unexpected ‘episodes’ in public.
• Some students will have had gaps in their educational experience as a result of these periods of being affected by the health condition.