REImagining Inclusion

What makes us think we need to RE Imagine Inclusion?  Do you feel there are gaps within your early intervention support network that are hard to fill?  Is the opportunity to rethink your practice something you'd love to do - but where to start?  Is mentoring and onthefloor coaching a possibility for you?  How do you feel you 'rate' as an inclusive practice?  The Reimagining Inclusion Conference  was recently held in Melbourne and provided opportunity to hear from national and international early childhood inclusion researchers, lecturers, educators and policy advocates.  Debating and questioning is a large part of any change.  There are elements within the presentations that make us feel affirmed about the path we are travelling, and others that inspire. 
The key messages that I took away and will continue to reflect upon are:
v  Instil HIGH EXPECTATIONS regarding all children i.e. presume competence.
v  CUSTOMISATION – of programs, environments, supports rather than adaptation.
v  COLLABORATION – between support networks, education services, parents, child, medical profession, therapists, researchers etc etc
v  MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION – NOT ACCESS alone. 
v  IMPLEMENTATION – that middle ground between theory and practice
v  PURPOSEFUL and INTENTIONAL – knowing WHERE you’re going and HOW to get there.
v  SELF AWARENESS – instil it, live it
v  PREPARATION
v  ATTITUDES – influence society
v  EVALUATION – and review
v  INTEGRATION OF SERVICES – not just collaboration, but actually using therapies, programs within services/home/other environments
v  SPECIALIST SUPPORT – mentoring, coaching, modelling
v  OUTCOMES – KEEP VISION IN MIND!!
ALL footage, program information and resources from the conference are now available at www.reimagininginclusion.org.au.  Provide your own feedback on the facebook page, too.  The filming of the conference was coordinated by the same producer of our Visuals DVD so be prepared for an empathic view with much to savour and explore.