The educational phenomenon of ‘Inclusiveness’ in Australia, is not a relatively new concept, and was formulated originally as an attempt to impart equality in the deliverance of education for students presented with various symptoms of disability. However, with the recent entrance of a number of children and youngsters in the educational context of Australia, belonging to a variety of diverse ethnic and cultural groups, the concept of educational inclusiveness in the Australian context, has undergone broadening, with an aim to provide optimum education to all students, irrespective of discrimination (Anderson & Boyle, 2015).
The following paragraphs of this report, will aim to discuss the concept of educational inclusiveness in the context of a child with additional psychological and academic requirements. The report will highlight the case study of Hunter, a child suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, his various educational needs, an assessment of goals required to fulfil the differential objectives along with a brief discussion on the possible educational outcomes expected from this evaluation.
The academic concept of ‘Inclusiveness’ in education, is often misinterpreted due to the current lack in appropriate and clearly specified definitions and policies related to it. Nevertheless, as opined by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, a school or educational setting can only be labelled as inclusive, if its educational curriculum remain equal for students belonging to all communities. However, as noted during its conception, educational inclusiveness majorly focusses on students with disabilities, as stated by the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Sharma, Loreman & Macanawai, 2016). At present, the educational settings in Australia has witnessed an infiltration of students belonging to various ethnic and diversity backgrounds. Thus, educational inclusiveness in the Australian context, implies imparting education and enabling participation of students, irrespective of their culture, ethnicity or race, as stated by the New South Wales Quality Teaching Model (Carrington et al., 2015).
The selected case study, is that of a student named Hunter, who is 8 years old, but it studying in Grade 1, as reported belonging two years beneath the required grade level. As evident from the case study, it seems Hunter has displayed considerable aggression and misconduct in his primary grade classes of reading and writing, with the teacher in question and also with his group of classmates. Apart from the primary subjects of mathematics, reading, writing, social studies and sciences, the school also presents a recreational area as evident from Hunter’s display of aggression amongst his classmates in the playground.
In the Australian context, for the purpose of educational inclusiveness in the case study of Hunter, the school is required to adhere to the Disability Standards of Education (2005), which specify the legal framework which Hunter’s teachers must abide by, that is, the Disability Discrimination Act. Through this educational policy, Hunter’s school can obtain funding for the purpose of his education through exhibition of additional services such as counselling sessions, speech, occupational and physiotherapy, which will benefit the unique educational needs of Hunter (Hardy & Woodcock, 2015). Further, there will be greater awareness of Hunter’s mental condition of ADHD amongst his classmates and fellow teachers, which will help them to be considerate and empathetic towards his needs. This can be done through implementation of a ‘Program for Students with Disabilities’. The teachers can further follow up Hunter’s progress and disseminate the information to his parents, who will now be aware of his specialised needs required to be fulfilled at school, as well at home (Davies, Elliott & Cumming, 2016).
As evident from the case study, Hunter’s academic background is detrimental, considering his decreased reading and motor skills. Further, he displays a relatively hostile background with his classmates, as evident in his display of violence when not considered a part of peer groups. Hunter also displays a background of mistrust with his teacher, considering her to treat him without fairness, resulting in acts of violence and aggression. While Hunter seems to display a positively emotional background with his parents, the problem lies with his mother living in denial with his mental condition, due to the stereotyped stigma attached, resulting in lack of required treatment for Hunter.
The disability suffered by Hunter is Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, and it will impact the various fields of his life in the following ways:
As evident in the case study of Hunter, one of his major strengths is his willingness to socialise and make friends. However, it seems that a lack of awareness considering his mental condition, results in mistreatment from his teachers and friends. Hence, there is a need to impart education and awareness considering Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, which will help his friends and teachers to recognise his differential educational requirements. Reduced reading and motor skills are some of his challenges, which can be overcome if teachers organize specialised activities for him such as craft and art classes, or building models which have been proven to result in improvement (Ofiesh, Moniz & Bisagno, 2015). There is an emotional need for Hunter to feel included, understood and loved amongst friends and teachers. Hence, the professionals in his educational settings must learn to engage in empathetic conversation using simple study instructions instead of their multiple or complex counterparts, resulting in improvement of his mental disability (Hagaman & Casey, 2016).
For the purpose of decision-making and instructions required for the treatment and formulation of educational needs of Hunter, there is need to obtain additional information. There should be clinical inspections conducted in order to identify and assess for the presence of any impairments in listening and sight along with monitoring Hunter’s development of fine and gross motor skills adequate for his age, as an indicator for the possibility of retardation at neuromuscular levels (Power et al., 2017). Additional information would include conducting a physical examination of Hunter, in order to detect for any disorders developed congenitally. Children with this mental disorder exhibit several comorbid conditions such as autistic behaviours, disorders of conduct, intellectual disability and disabilities associated with cognition and linguistic development (Jensen & Steinhausen, 2015). Hence, assessments must be carried out for Hunter in order to acquire these additional information apart from the ones already highlighted in the case study.
For the purpose of obtaining the above information concerning Hunter suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a number of assessment tools will be required to collect the required data. One of the most essential assessment tools which can be used to assess this condition is Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, 5th Edition, formulated by the American Psychiatric Association in the year 2013. The criteria is in the form of a checklist outlining symptoms associated with hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention, which Hunter’s parents and teachers can use upon observation of his behavioural and academic symptoms (Vitola et al., 2017). Additional assessment tools include the usage of interviews which can be conducted amongst Hunter’s teachers and parents where they would recall exhibition or occurrences of symptoms characteristic of his mental condition. Further assessment tools would involve the act of classroom observation by a notable educational psychologist who would careful observe the behaviours and symptoms exhibit by Hunter, pertaining to this academic performance and relationships amongst classmates and teachers. Hunter’s teachers may also be involved in his assessment and data collection procedures where they may outline the behaviours exhibited by him, in the form of completion of a structured questionnaire (Minder et al., 2018).
The following two short term goals can be outlined for Hunter, in accordance to his mental disability in the educational settings:
For the purpose of enhancing the relationships Hunter has with teachers and students, the teacher may be required to utilise additional educational strategies. Since, Hunter is often easily distracted, he may seated in the front row or somewhere away from the classroom doors and windows, which can pose as potential distractions. The teacher must consider to talk positively with Hunter, using empathetic communication strategies such as greeting Hunter by his name and creating a bulletin board, where Hunter’s drawings or attempts in writings can be displayed with other students, as a token of appreciation for this improvements and trials. The teacher along with the classmates, must ensure continuously providing Hunter with positive feedback for his attempts followed by empathetic conversation during misconduct, in order to improve his self-esteem resulting in feelings of inclusiveness and social confidence (Hart et al., 2017).
For the purpose of improvement of Hunter’s academic performance and enhancement in his school grades, there will be a need for the teacher to utilise additional educational strategies. Since Hunter often exhibits difficulties in reading, the teacher can note down simple information concerning the benefits one can possess during participation of the same, and read it aloud for every student of the class. Consequently, the teacher may use educational strategies such as various pictorial information or colourful charts which would attractively represent the importance of reading or any educational information for the matter, and hence help in arousing eagerness and enthusiasm in Hunter (Hamilton & Astramovich, 2016). Hunter displays decreased performance in fine motor skills such as writing or drawing. In such situations, the teacher can conduct separate handwriting tests where Hunter may be allowed to practice. Often children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder often exhibit difficulties in retention of complex or multiple information sources. Hence, in the situation of Hunter, the teacher may formulate and use simple worksheets with less instructions, divided in to segments, which he can perform with ease. Most importantly, classmates and teachers concerned with Hunter, must engage in continuously motivating and appreciating his efforts in order to increase his confidence (Anderson, Watt & Shanley, 2017).
Conclusion
Hence, it can be observed that Hunter is suffering from a mental disorder of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, which has negatively impacted his social, emotional and academic life. Upon observation and development of this report, it can concluded that the need of the hour is to implement and execute appropriate policies of educational inclusiveness in the respective school settings, for imparting awareness concerning the mental disability affecting Hunter. Considering the need for inclusiveness in academic surroundings, the concerned teachers associated with Hunter, must design customised educational strategies which will aid Hunter in the improvement of his academic performance along with development of healthy, cordial and trustworthy relationships with his fellow classmates.
References
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