This workshop was a welcomed challenge for One For All and one we have been eager to undertake for a while. It was the first time that we delivered our training to such an influential audience – this is the government body that is responsible for developing the policies which shape education – so along with many original ideas and activities, we added some new aspects to our training, such as the added insight gained from Lucy, now working in the teaching profession. Our ethos was strengthened further by joining forces with HEYA, a youth led collective, who empower young people to actively promote a more inclusive society, in all aspects of daily life. Maresa has worked with HEYA in the past and yet again the combination of representatives from both groups proved successful and added a new dimension to our training. HEYA opened the workshop with a compelling presentation on a very global view of inclusion and human rights, including some startling statistics and illuminating interviews between members. One For All then followed with a more specific view of education in the UK, according to our own personal experiences from primary to higher education and beyond. We challenged our participants to think about different views of disability according to social and medical model thinking and we got them working as a team in order to debate and overcome some of the current challenges to inclusive education. We believe making connections with the DCFS is vital if we are to put our inclusive ideals into action. They were keen to hear the voice of young people, so we are all looking forward to many future opportunities to work together.
A DCFS member told us,
‘I really enjoyed the workshop and thought it was very professional.’
