EDTK Unit 6

Inclusion refers to the practice of students with disabilities (SWD) learning

alongside their peers in general education classrooms (Gilhool 1989). Inclusion
in education is an approach to educating students with special needs. Haug
(2010) explained that the role of inclusion was to increase participation within
the culture and curricula of school and minimize exclusion from school and
culture.
Main Issue Regarding Inclusiveness in Education - The main issues regarding
inclusiveness in education as I understand it is the quality of teaching. Teachers
do not have adequate working conditions to meet all the challenges in inclusive
education (Kreitz- Sandberg 2015).Research shows teachers are the single most
important factor influencing how mucg students benefit from school (Hanushek
2014; Hattie 2009). The quality of teaching is the deciding factor for the
students’ learning outcomes.
Hearing Loss and Deafness – Hearing loss or hearing impairment is the partial
or total inability to hear. The term deaf is used if a person cannot hear at all.
Damage to the outer, middle or inner ear is responsible for hearing loss and can
range from mild to extreme. These damages could be caused by problems with
the bones inside the ear, damage to the cochlea nerve, excessive exposure to
noise, exposure to diseases in utero, age, trauma as well as genetic disorders.
How Hearing Loss Can Hinder Access to Education in Trinidad and Tobago –
In Trinidad and Tobago, students who are hearing impaired mostly attend
schools for the deaf or other special education schools but are seldom included
in regular classrooms/schools. According to the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday
(30:9:2019), “There are many issues with the education of children with special
needs here in Trinidad and Tobago – insufficient and ineffective education
institutions; lack of continuous training of teachers and insufficient teacher
aides”. This would include children with hearing loss/hearing impairment
therefore, because of this, those children will have limited access to a proper
education.
Assistive Technology – Assistive technology are the systems and services
related to the delivery of assistance of products and services to persons with
disabilities, older people, people with non communicable diseases like diabetes
and stroke, persons with mental health problems including autism and dementia
as well as persons with gradual functional decline. Some assistive technologies
include: Hearing aids, Braille books and keyboards, wheelchairs, walkers, voice
activated computers, switches and controls to access equipment.
Assistive Technology Can Enhance Inclusion – Hearing aids are crucial for
hearing impaired students as it could enhance their education. The proper use of
hearing aids by young children will increase their hearing ability which will also
enhance and improve their language skills, thus enabling them to have the
ability to learn and receive an education right alongside their peers in regular
classrooms.

References
Haug, P., 2017. Understanding inclusive education: ideals and
reality. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, 19(3), pp.206–217.
https://www.sjdr.se/articles/10.1080/15017419.2016.1224778/

Mahase R., Trinidad Newsday, (2019) Becoming Special Needs Teachers

https://newsday.co.tt/2019/09/30/becoming-special-needs-teachers/

World health Organization (2018); Assistive Technology

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/assistive-technology