Invitational Inclusive Education: First Steps on a Journey to Develop Perspectives and Practices

Overview & Synopsis

This article invites all educators to consider the implementation of the tenets of Invitational Education (IE) as a firm foundation and precursor upon which can be built an Inclusive Education climate and mindset which encourages success for all students. This eighteen month study of two professors from Ohio's Muskingum University shares from inception to implementation, the idea of creating a graduate course for teachers and administrators which merges the practices of Inclusive Education and Invitational Education. The course, entitled Invitational Inclusive Education (IIE), seeks to convince teachers that a belief in and application of IE greatly enhances the chances for a more inviting teacher acceptance of inclusive practices (including co-teaching) for students with special needs. Teacher response to the course has been very positive resulting in the development of the term IIE, as well as a draft tool which helps to define stages of teacher acceptance of inclusive practice.