When we look at inclusive education, there are so many avenues that we take to accommodate all learners. For the purpose of this page, I want to focus in on inclusive education for learners living with anxiety.
When I was 15 years old I found out that I was born with MRKH Syndrome (Syndrome is a rare congenital disorder that affects the female reproductive system). One of the side effects I dealt with, was normal/chemical imbalance. Furthermore, I also experienced some mental struggles with feeling true to myself and who I am. From there I was diagnosed with anxiety.
When I was diagnosed with anxiety, my doctor told me I needed to stop going to schools, stay home, don’t work, and basically remove myself from all the things that triggered my anxiety. My parents did not agree with this and when I look back I thank them so much for disagreeing with that.
In addition to my parent’s opinions on that, they did not really understand anxiety. Jumping toward my education journey around grade 10-now I have struggled with my anxiety in the classroom and in school. I feel as though the timeframe that I was in school, the understanding of anxiety from educators and others was low. Therefore, I already felt very much alone but I also felt that there was minimal support. If I was unable to be in the classroom with all the students, I would receive looks of disappointment and be sent to the counselling office. I was told I needed to be in the classroom to learn. I never felt supported or accommodated. In summary, I was not met where I needed to be met by my educators, I feel as though because I was unable to be there, I was given up on and that is the last thing I want any student to feel ever. In contradiction to that, there is a handful of teachers and education supporters that I would not have graduated or even be where I am today without their influence in my education journey. Having those few teachers in my journey, only fed into my passion for teaching and being a teacher. I want to be able to be that safe space for my students, I want to be able to have that kind of impact that my teachers had on me, on my students.
As an educator, I want to be a safe space for my students. I want to be able to create accommodations for my students to help them be as successful as they can. But more than that, I want them to feel like they are not alone and that their anxiety isn’t something that they need to struggle with.
I want to be able to create a safe classroom for students to feel their feelings and express those feelings. Inclusive education is so important to me. The pandemic only added to people’s stress and anxiety and in my experience, the kids coming into schools are struggling to leave home more than ever due to the pandemic and being so close to their parents every day. They are experiencing anxiety and nervousness as such. young age about something that they should be so excited about and look forward to.
As an educator, I will strive to:
- Create a safe and inclusive learning environment.
- Prioritize parent communication for the benefit of the students.
- Continue my education so I can be the best teacher I can be to my students.
- Always be an advocate for my student’s needs, wants & desires.
- Never turn my back on a child because some may think “their disability makes them hard to teach, or they just can’t do it”
- Always be open to accommodations and collaboration to benefit my students and others involved.