Chances are, if you already believe that inclusive education doesn’t work, a stack of research studies saying otherwise isn’t going to change your mind. That is because one of the most significant barriers to inclusion is your mindset.
For special education teachers who promote inclusive practices, it is difficult to go to work every day when your colleagues either actively or passively work against your efforts. Though, if you are an educator who knows in your heart that inclusion benefits all students, you are in good company (with 40 years of research to back it up).
One of the most comprehensive summaries of the research, published in 2016, reviewed evidence from more than 280 studies conducted in 25 countries. Do you know what it showed? Educational settings where children with disabilities are educated alongside their nondisabled peers can have substantial benefits for the cognitive and social development of all children. When teachers and schools include a student with a disability, it requires them to develop a better understanding of the strengths and needs of every student.
Let’s break down some of the critical findings of the report.