As part of the Inclusive Education campaign being run alongside Down Syndrome International and Down’s Syndrome Scotland, we are offering free, non-judgmental support for your school to include children with intellectual disabilities alongside their neuro-typical peers.
The challenge – effective inclusion of children with intellectual disabilities requires good support, for school leaders, SENCos, class teachers, and support staff. Not enough free support is offered locally or nationally. And, not enough good quality research exists to demonstrate the benefits of, and challenges involved in, ensuring inclusive education.
What we are doing – we are working with schools to build and publish fully informed case studies, looking in depth at the inclusion of learners with an
intellectual disability alongside their peers. Throughout the academic year 2022-23, we are offering a limited number of schools in the UK the opportunity to take part in a national research project. These schools, welcoming a learner with an intellectual disability, will receive free, non-judgmental support to effectively include the child, alongside their neuro-typical peers.
What’s next – have a conversation. Both the school and the family of the child with an intellectual disability need to consent to participate. The chosen schools will benefit from access to an assigned inclusive education officer for the full academic year. This will include 3 day visits to the school. This will contribute to the contiual development of the offer the school is providing to the child.
Get in touch – email chris.barnes@ds-int.org or complete the school or parent application form.
You can find the application form for schools here.
And the application form for parents here.
