Dear Colleague,
There is a cartoon for authors to explain why anyone undertakes the daunting task of writing a book. It shows a person facing an entire wall of books with the caption “There’s not a single book written that says what really needs to be said …”
That cartoon explains my interest in working with Leonard Burrello and the Forum on Education to produce videotapes on various aspects of inclusive practices.
I deeply believe that students with disabilities and other special needs can succeed when provided with access to the general education curriculum. When I began this work I couldn't find video materials that provided accurate information and yet conveyed the complexity of creating schools and programs that foster inclusion. Nothing seemed to quite capture the key concepts—and so my partnership with the Forum was a way to make a contribution to help educators better meet the needs of their students.
The Forum videotapes and their accompanying manuals provide a flexible means for professionals and parents to learn about inclusion, co-teaching, instructional strategies, and many related topics. The tapes are deliberately designed to be brief enough to use during staff development sessions after school or on teacher workdays. Also, they can be used for group training, but in some school districts individual teachers borrow the tapes and view them at their convenience. The manuals provide outlines of the topics included on the videotapes as well as questions that can be used for group discussion or individual reflection. As I travel and work with school professionals from across the country, I am often asked about materials to help educate others about inclusive practices. The products produced by the Forum are among those I most highly recommend.
The task of addressing the diversity of today’s students so that they can achieve their potential demands that educators draw on all the resources available to them. By using materials such as those produced by the Forum and forming partnerships with colleagues, the dream of creating schools that truly meet the needs of all students becomes closer to a universal reality.
In collaboration,
Marilyn Friend, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor
Department of Specialized Education Services
University of North Carolina Greensboro
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 Dr. Marilyn Friend
On set with Dr. Friend...
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