We need to educate both sides

My first week into my Masters and the CEO of the company I work at discussed with me about one of my units: 'inclusivity in education'. The unit gives us readings which argue that in "including students with different needs but excluding them through 'special classes' is NOT inclusivity." I understand this, coming from Normanhurst Boys High School where there was the 'mainstream' students and the 'Autism Unit', referred to as 'The A Team'. Looking back, I felt we, as 'mainstream students', lacked the maturity, knowledge and experience (these three go hand in hand) to interact in a two-way channel between the two 'streams'. In the grand scheme of things, I can anecdotally say, yes, 'inclusive exclusion' lead to further exclusion.

I then begin to think of the people I've worked with. Rightfully so in many cases, these people believe they are the victims of 'society', consciously or unconsciously. To make matters more complex, they may have barriers ranging from intellectual to physical. There may be a fine line, if any, where those 'with certain barriers' and those without are separated. Is this line of separation deemed by society, 'the average person test'? Or is it by professional diagnosis? This all adds many layers of complexity but perhaps this chaos is what must be sifted through to achieve clarity. Kindness and patience will be put to test.

What about myself? I look back to when I clung to the barriers I believed I had. Is it okay for me to keep clinging on? How do I encourage others with similar backgrounds to stop clinging on to truly heal? At what point/where is the equilibrium where we acknowledge their feelings and/or give them some tough love (to grow, we must move on)? To clarify, there are many people who I believe are hindering their own potential by living in the past and their experiences, leading to paralysis in action. I understand there are complex cognitive reasons behind this. I will leave this part to the professionals. A large part of my listening of Goggins and Peterson rings in my ear, "if we don't directly tackle the issue at hand, say obesity or anxiety, the problem will persist." Yes, there are exceptions, yes there are barriers and difficulties. I'm digressing.

As the layperson though, the CEO gave me a simple answer on moral obligations. We need to educate people in the most engaging and simplest form about people with barriers. What she said next balanced out my understanding. "We need to educate both sides. Those with these barriers and those without." True integration and inclusion is done through engaging education and participation. Well said, Deborrah.

Now the big task, educating the increasingly growing masses of 'averageness' with short attention spans. This is where my passions lie: discipline and mindfulness, the two keys to self-sufficiency. And it's chaotic sibling: curiosity and action.