why including students with disabilities is of value to all

7/30/2019 Why Including Students With Disabilities is of Value to All

1/15

WHY INCLUDING STUDENTS WIT

DISABILITIES IS OF VALUE FOR A

Rethinking the norm:


2/15

Presenter

Hannah Taieb, Resident Director, CIEE F


3/15

The Resident Directors perspecti

3

Daniel Audaz,

CIEE Rennes

Since Emmas participation in our program I kee

accessibility everywhere I go. When I used the w

go from the house to the University, I realized th

amount of obstacles obstacles that people with

mobility capacity wouldnt even suspect. I clea

remember the gaze of people when I took the m

regard des autres !

Emma was the leader of the group. She knew ho

a group around her. The profs, the host families,

was the best group they every had.

On welcoming a student who uses a


4/15

The professors perspective

4

Delia Mellado,

French

professor

I wanted to handle the Chanels disability in th

most neutral way possible, but without deny

it, either. My first reaction was fear of not being

to the task! During our first outing, the stude

were grouped in a semi-circle around me I w

explaining something and my gaze was sweep

the eyes of the students around me to capture

their attention. Suddenly I realized my gaze wmoving from left to right and back again, alway

the same level, passing over Chanels head as

she sat in her wheelchair ! I immediately corre

my aim so that as my gaze moved back an

forth, I dropped my eyes to meet the eyes of t

student

On welcoming a student who uses a wh


5/15


5

Lucie

Laureillard,

French

professor and

student well-

being

coordinator

Its a group learning experiencpatience. We work better to

with the student in the class

plus to slow down, its bene

the whole class. Theres likeculture around this young p

in the class a group cultur

On welcoming a student with speech


6/15


6

Derek

ORegan,

Literature

professor

My initial reaction was one of apprehension I imag

situation where my control/authority might be un

where I lacked the necessary skills. This reactioa sense of curiosity, almost of opportunity at the

experience and, then, to a sense of welcome c

I felt a certain leveling effect, a return to basics and

essential - the relationship on a human level, rat

strictly intellectual level, between the professor a

student. Because of her disability, Lori was morecentre of my focus, and this direct, physical, mo

approach with students is something teachers s

sight of in the classroom. So, possibly, a greate

of the importance of openness and accessibility

students on the part of the teacher.

On welcoming a Deaf student w


7/15


7

At no time throughout the course did I sense that th

essentially different from any other for the other They did seem somewhat reserved initially, but

say that this was due to the presence of Lori an

interpreters But, if this was the reason, they a

quickly. I did feel that they had a greater respec

who were speaking and a greater capacity to lis

Having a deaf student in one's class is not only not problematic, but can be

experience in human exchange. The teacher is reminded of the equal impo

students in a class, whatever their natural aptitude and intellectual capacity

that a successful class is one which is successful for everyone, where all a

where the teacher is mindful of remaining open and accessible to all.


8/15

The best friends perspective

8

Oddly enough, it is still sometimes difficult for m

remember that Chris has AspergersKno

has definitely enabled me to remember tha

story behind people and it is best to find ou

before jumping to conclusions.

Spending time interacting with Chris in the Fre

environment definitely did open my mind. I

how I struggled interacting and fitting into t

culture, I cant imagine what it is like for himstruggles to fit in everywhere.

It was .. the travel experience with Chris that opened my eyes the most as we h

our communication and use each others strengths... We had a couple of proble

travels as we both needed to find a balance of knowing when to help each othe

when to keep our distance. It was one of the most comforting things in the worl

someone I could trust as a travel companion.


9/15

The best friends perspective

9

We were arriving to Venice late in the evening

driver at the airport flat-out refused to take

bus was not equipped with a ramp, nor a h

spot. He also dissuaded other willing passe

helping us on, as he did not want to be liab

an accident... Emma swiftly transferred he

wheelchair onto the buss stairs and bump

each step into the aisle, and finally into a s

no one could really say anything, could theLogistically, the inclusion of Emma did not change anything about the program

other ways, I think that the inclusion of Emma absolutely changed the program

students. Emma is a dynamic and an exceptional individual who has a persona

people want to be around. She minimizes her disability to the smallest possible

Meeting and having a shared experience with someone like that, who has and

face obstacles very different from your own, with such an amazing attitude,

was unexpected and inspiring for other students.


10/15

The effects of inclusion

Obvious effects: greater understanding for staff, professo

students of issues of access and disability

The gaze, where to look when speaking to a Deaf per

interpreters or to a group including people in a wheelc

Greater understanding of prejudice, of differences bet

own societies and others in terms of understanding of

body, ethical issues

Knowledge useful for ourselves, those close to us, ou

10


11/15


Less obvious effects, for students

Insight into being an outsider helps students unde

their own feelings abroad

Creation of strong groups, with a sub-culture around

student with disabilities (depends on the students cha

Student with disabilities leads the way by anticipating

and initiating conscious learning of social codes

11


12/15


Less obvious effects, in the classroom: Slowness, patience which helps with languagculture learning

More tolerance for OTHER kinds of differenc

classroom A leveling effect, a return to the basics of te

as a human relationship, an ethic of respec

patience and generosity

12


13/15


Less obvious effects, for program directo

staff

Its okay not to know all the answers

Rethink interacting with students about difficu

prejudice they may face Does equal mean identical ? Respect

kinds of differences

13


14/15

ONE LAST STUDENT QUOTE

I feel that as long as the person with a disability is

and comfortable, then making a study abroad prog

inclusive to those individuals can only - as with div

and exposure to any culture, lifestyle and ideas dif

ones own, - be incredibly enriching. It can make o

at themselves, their lives, and their environment innew ways. Isnt that the kind of experience student

to study abroad are seeking out?

14


15/15

Many thanks

Thanks to Daniel Audaz, Tyler Jackman,

Karker, Lucie Laureillard, Delia Mellado,

ORegan, Chris Tidmarsh, Emma Verrill,

Washington, Lindsay Walter, and to all th

who shared ideas for this presentation.

15

why including students with disabilities is of value to all

Documents