The Importance of Inclusion and Acceptance for People with Down Syndrome in Everyday Life

Some studies have recorded that in numerous schools around the United States, students with Down syndrome and other cognitive and physical disabilities learn alongside their nondisabled peers. The importance of inclusivity cannot be stressed enough in today’s society.

This article explores the meaning and importance of inclusion and acceptance for people with down syndrome. This article also explains that integration is not merely a matter of including people with disabilities in regular schools and workplaces but an opportunity to create a deeper connection between all members of society.

Inclusion and acceptance are essential to a healthy, growing society. Feeling included and accepted can help one adapt to everyday life. Still, these feelings may not come easy for people with down syndrome. If you have a loved one with Down syndrome, you can better support them by learning about the importance of inclusion through this article.

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Importance of Inclusion and Acceptance for People with Down Syndrome

When discussing inclusion and acceptance, it is easy to undermine the value of these concepts. And that is because people without such disabilities have unacknowledged privileges that they tend to take for granted.

Although these privileges are not necessarily wrong, learning the importance of inclusion and acceptance, especially for people with disabilities such as Down syndrome, can help us understand and further support these individuals.

It is not to say that there have not been improvements regarding the inclusion of people with disabilities. UNICEF surveyed the general public on their knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward children with Down syndrome.

The survey showed that, in recent years, there had been tremendous progress toward removing barriers that prevented the inclusion of these children in society. It is well-known that inclusion has been a topic of discussion among educators.

Some people who support inclusion believe that the special education required by children with special needs comes with a high cost. Still, this factor should not stop children from being educated in the least restrictive environments and accommodations that best suit the children’s needs.

We must remember that every child is unique and has different capabilities to offer the world. But we should also understand that for these children to succeed, educators must prepare them to be independent in the future.

To reach such goals, educators must learn to acknowledge how the reading brain works, rethink teacher training options, and determine the cause of the students’ difficulties in their studies.

Many children have different learning styles, and everyone processes information differently. Some people can be visual, auditory, tactile, or kinesthetic learners.

Educators must learn the vital connection between learning styles and children’s learning capabilities while incorporating this information into teaching children with special needs.

The True Meaning of Inclusion for People with Down Syndrome

There are several interpretations of the word “Inclusion” for people with Down syndrome. What, then, does true “inclusion” mean? Here, we’ve listed the objectives genuine inclusion can achieve:

To provide unrestrictive access to education alongside their peers.

Curriculums in today’s educational system need to provide full inclusion that leads to enhanced literacy and numeracy skills as well as general knowledge. Educators who continue to support literacy across all curricular platforms can provide a strong foundation for spoken language development.

To accommodate engaging and interactive participation in daily activities.

Children with Down syndrome are known to be delayed in various developmental areas, which include motor, cognitive, mental, and emotional skills. For children with disabilities to master specific skills and achieve goals that educators and parents set, active participation is necessary.

Teachers can use simple tasks such as picking up objects, holding a pencil correctly, or properly using scissors to help develop their fine motor skills.

Increase one-on-one quality time.

According to some educators, increasing one-on-one instructional time is one of the most recommended ways to improve inclusion. People with Down syndrome usually need direct instructions or highlighted cues to understand the concept of cause and effect.

Sitting down with them helps them understand their behaviors and deepen their perception of consequences. Increasing quality time can help kids and adults outside the educational setting.

Always remember that inclusion does not necessarily mean “assimilation.” Although people with disabilities may require more intensive accommodations than others, they should still be allowed to participate in many daily activities that we normally engage in.

Creating friendships and relationships with different and unique people helps children with Down syndrome find happiness and understand their place in the world. Although some people may think it takes time and effort to achieve the goal of equality and inclusion, the result will undoubtedly be worth it.