The ABCs of inclusive education – ETR

This year Inclusion Europe wants to talk about education.  

We think that inclusive education is better for students,  

teachers and parents.  

We created the ABCs of inclusive education to  

help you understand what inclusive education is.  

“A” such as: Accessibility  

The right to accessibility and reasonable accommodations guarantee 
to all students with disabilities the right to attend schools on an equal basis to others.  

“B” such as: Be part of the community 

With inclusive education, all students can  

be part of their community.  

“C” such as: Cooperation 

In an inclusive school, students are taught in small classes  

in which they collaborate and support one another  

rather than compete.  

“D” such as: Diversity 

In an inclusive education system,  

there is a diversity of students.  

There are students with and without disabilities  

that learn in the same classroom.  

“E” such as: Everyone 

Everyone has the rights to learn.  

“F” such as: Flexible learning 

In an inclusive school, the teaching methods must meet 

the individual needs of all learners.  

To do so, the teachers use easy and creative approach  

to education and curriculum. 

“G” such as: Growing  

Inclusion has no limits.  

It is constantly evolving and growing.  

“H” such as: Health 

People with disabilities who have been 
included in school are healthier.  

“I” such as: Invest in inclusive early childhood care and education 

One of the steps towards achieving inclusive education is  

to put money, effort and time into 

inclusive early childhood care and education.  

“J” such as: social Justice 

Inclusive education gives support and opportunities to 

people with disabilities. 

Inclusive education helps to create a society where 

people with disabilities are not stigmatised.  

“K” such as: Keep an open mind  

In an inclusive education, the teachers must  

keep an open mind and recognise different learning styles.

“L” such as: Legislative framework 

It is necessary to create laws  

that promote the right to access inclusive education for all.  

This includes the respect of  

the UN CRPD and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.  

“M” such as: Ministry  

To achieve inclusive education,  

one ministry must be responsible for  

educating all students of the same age and level of education.  

“N” such as: Individual needs 

An inclusive education system responds to  

the needs of every child without discrimination.  

“O” such as: Opportunities 

Inclusive education provides all students with  

equitable learning opportunities  

within the regular school system.  

“P” such as: Physical accommodation 

Inclusive education is also about physical accommodations.  

For example:  

• ramps instead of stairs,  
• doorways wide enough for wheelchair users.  

“Q” such as: Quality education 

The UN CRPD Committee says that  

“inclusive education is central to achieving high-quality education for  

all learners, including those with disabilities.” 

“R” such as: Resources 

In an inclusive education system, schools must have  

access to the financial and human resources to support inclusion.  

It means that schools need money and people to help  

implementing inclusion in classrooms.  

“S” such as : no Segregation 

Inclusion involves ending segregation.  

Segregation occurs when people with disabilities are educated in separate environments (classes or schools) designed for students with disabilities.  

“T” such as: Trained teachers 

In an inclusive education system, teachers are trained and supported  

on how to individualise their teaching. 

They use different methods for different learning style  

so that all students can learn.  

“U” such as: Understanding  

Inclusive classrooms foster attitudes of understanding and empathy.  

Inclusive education also helps change  

discriminatory attitudes and change stigmas around disabilities.  

V: Valuate other perspectives  

Inclusive schools place great importance on creating opportunities for students to learn in a variety of ways.   

That is why teachers in inclusive schools must consider  

a wide range of learning modalities:  

• visual: videos, illustrations, written instructions, graphic organizers; 
• auditory: verbal instructions, music, audiobooks; 
• kinaesthetic: games, role-playing, hands-on activities. 

W: Work together  

Inclusive education allows learners with and without disabilities to  

attend the same age-appropriate classroom.  

X: eXtra benefits  

Learners with disabilities who have been included in school: 

• Perform better in highly inclusive settings; 
• Are more likely to look forward to going to school; 
• Are more likely to be included and participate in their communities after graduation; 
• Are more likely to have employment and access to recreational activities. 

Y: Yearn for more  

Parents, students with intellectual disabilities, self-advocates, teachers, and NGOs have been fighting for inclusive education for many years.  

Inclusion Europe will keep fighting until  

we make sure all learners with intellectual disabilities  

have access to quality education! 

Z: “Zero reject policy”  

To achieve inclusive education, we need to eliminate  

laws that exclude children from school based on disability.  

This is something called “Zero reject policy”. 

It is the principle according which  

no student with a disability can be denied an education.  

Join our campaign “That’s what I learned” 

on inclusive education! 

To read more about Education  

click here.