How have your perceptions of disability and inclusion changed since completing the independent study on inclusive education and the field experience in Belize?
After this course and the field experience here in Belize, my perceptions of disability and inclusion in the classroom have changed. I can admit that before this course I was very ignorant of how to include students with disabilities in the classroom. After attending the course meetings, watching eye opening videos like “Willowbrook”, and taking part in the gathering place event, I felt more knowledgeable about what inclusion looked like. Being able to come to Belize and then apply everything that I had learned to a classroom setting was even more beneficial for me. At first, it was definitely a challenge and took a bit of adjusting, especially because I did not have every resource I was used to having in the U.S. But once I observed my classroom and realized that the smallest modification could really improve a student’s experience, I was very pleased. Something as small as using a calculator to complete the multiplication step of a math concept can really make a difference. Even assigning the job of holding the poster while their group presents or giving the student a class job, can make a difference and make the student feel like they are part of the class. The change in my perception will be able to be carried back to the U.S. In my future classroom I feel much more confident that I will be able to provide all of my students with the education they deserve.
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