Addressing policy gaps in inclusive education for students with disabilities

Building on the experience of our first and successful young disability advocates training, this time we run our six day intensive professional development for both young educators with disabilities,  young teachers and disability advocates. With Covid restrictions the training was delivered online.  

The pandemic has demonstrated that there is an important gap in respect to inclusive education and providing reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities. The emphasis on online learning during the pandemic has particular implications for teachers and students with disabilities. 

With this background, we designed our activities to inform young teachers and disability advocates about principles of inclusive education and the adjustments needed to deliver inclusive and accessible learning. The emphasis is on the principle of equity and accessibility and strategies and techniques that can bridge the gap between policies and their practical implication on educators. 

Current circumstances provide a motive and opportunity to address a systemic weakness in accessible education. By exploring practical scenarios addressing various different physical disability types, participants will be better able to adapt material and delivery methods using available electronic tools. 

Seventy two participants consist of teachers with disabilities teaching in special schools, teachers from inclusive schools as well as young disability advocates shared their experiences teaching students with disabilities during pandemic, identified best practices and strategies to develop in delivering an inclusive learning process.

Australian speakers:

• Professor Fiona Kelly, Head of Law School, La Trobe University
• Elena Williams, Australia-Indonesia Institute (AII)
• Professor Umesh Sharma, Monash University
• Professor Teresa Iacono, La Trobe University
• Dr. Ramunas Rae, Dosen La Trobe University
• Professor Angela Page, University of Newcastle
• Erin Greaves, Victoria Department of Education

Indonesian speakers:

• Prof. Dr. Ir. Nuhfil Hanani AR., MS., Rektor Universitas Brawijaya
• Dr. Iwan Syahril, Direktur Jenderal Guru dan Tenaga Kependidikan, Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan RI
• Professor Didi Tarsidi, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
• Pujaningsih, Ed.D, Dosen Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta
• Unita Werdi Rahajeng, M.Psi, Universitas Brawijaya
• Dr. Muhammad Zain, Direktur Guru dan Tenaga Pendidik Madrasah, Kementerian Agama Republik Indonesia
• Dr. Samto, Direktur Pendidikan Masyarakat dan Pendidikan Khusus, Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan Republik Indonesia
• Prof. Dr. Ing. Setyawan Purnomo Sakti, M. Eng, Ketua Lembaga Pengembangan Pendidikan dan Penjaminan Mutu Universitas Brawijaya (LP3M UB)
• Zubaidah Ningsih AS, Ph.D, Ketua PSLD UB
• Setyo Adhi Purwanto, Dria Manunggal

This activity was supported by Australia-Indonesia Institute, Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade