Session Leader: Alison CoxSession Leader: Alison Cox

Understanding Inclusiveness

vFILS Session 2

What is Inclusiveness?

What is Inclusiveness?

• If I came to visit any of you at work this week, to find out how you’re getting on with the challenge of inclusiveness, what changes or improvements would you want to show me? What have you already done in your team or department to make your services or provision more inclusive?

What are your peers saying?

• In your break-out rooms you are going to find four statements. Consider these statements and decide in your groups whether you agree or disagree with the opinions expressed.

Break-out

Inclusiveness is NOT….

• making extra or special arrangements to enable individuals with additional support needs, disabilities, health issues, to take part - while leaving the service you provide and the institution/agency you work in - completely unchanged.

What else is NOT Inclusiveness?

• A remedial or therapeutic approach• An unrealistic view• Being swamped with technology• Leaving it to the experts• Treating every individual the same

way because ‘one size fits all’

Inclusiveness or else?

• Positive discrimination focuses on the needs of the “special” individual but InclusivenessInclusiveness places the emphasis on a high quality experience for all users of your service.

• Reactive adaptation usually leads to changes/remedies for the individual whereas InclusivenessInclusiveness changes the culture of the whole institution.

A learning experience is inclusive when…….

1. Abilities and aptitudes match well with course demands & academic level

2. Students’ anticipated needs inform course design & content

A client experiences an inclusive when…….

1. The individual’s hopes and expectations match well with service standards & provision

2. Clients/Users’ anticipated needs inform service design & facilities

How far does

‘Inclusiveness’

penetrate inyour

organisation?

Example 1• Do students on

multimedia and web design courses learn about the importance of website accessibility, and how to achieve it?

Example 2• Do all dental

practitioners learn how to communicate effectively with patients who have significant learning disabilities or sensory impairment?

Example 3• Do trainee chefs

find out about nut allergies or Halal food or dietary restrictions for people with diabetes?

Example 4• How many sports

coaching students ever have a placement where they’re asked to referee a wheelchair basketball match?

Example 5• Do students of

landscape design and architecture consider sensory planting, path gradients or non-slip surfaces?

How far does Inclusiveness penetrate?

• Spend a few minutes discussing the range of courses on offer in your college or university, or services offered by your organisation.

• Identify a good example of inclusiveness – you’ve just seen a few suggestions. Put your ideas on your whiteboard and then be ready to share.

Break-out

How far does

‘Inclusiveness’

penetrate inyour

organisation?

The truly inclusive organisation…...

• Understands that a large investment in policy review, positive promotion and publicity will not achieve inclusiveness if the course/service itself - or the mode of delivery – is exclusive or inaccessible.

Next time in the vFILS

Classroom...

Session Leader: Fil McIntyreSession Leader: Fil McIntyre

Access Solutions

vFILS Session 3