Real inclusion

https://www.upworthy.com/want-to-see-what-inclusion-looks-like-a-high-school-marching-band-sets-the-bar-for-us-all?fbclid=IwAR3186bpYphQK6W68hmjLF13EjA6Wo-Vj2wGQzU2S9d-WpjBFSQUf4ZJwHY

Isaac and Aiden are brothers at a high school in New Mexico, USA. Aiden is part of the school marching band, who perform at competitions and events and when his younger brother Isaac joined the school he wanted him to be part of the marching band too.

Isaac has a disability and rarely joins in the same activities as his brother. Isaac cannot play an instrument and needs constant support so Mum thought he would not be able to join in the marching band. She thought he would be given a job like setting up water bottles or carrying music stands.

Mum went to see the first performance of the year and was astonished to see Isaac not only joining in as part of the band, but also to see him placed up at the front, jamming with his drum pads. Mum could see Isaac was playing out of time and the pads had been muted but it didn't matter, more importantly he was there, at the front, part of the group and loving the experience.

Later the band director thanked Mum for allowing Isaac to be part of the band and Aiden says everyone in the band loves having Isaac as part of the group. Mum shared the story on twitter and it quickly went viral with people commenting this was real inclusion. The website Upworthy defines inclusion as:
"Making accommodations that allow a person to participate in an activity in a way that works for everyone. Often that means getting creative... it means putting compassion and empathy ahead of rigid rules or traditions. When inclusion is done well, everyone wins. In this story Isaac is happy, the band is happy, the band director is happy, Isaac's family are happy."

what do you see in the picture?
where is it?
what's happening?

explain the story

- what is a marching band?
- why do you think Aiden wanted Isaac to be in the band?
- why was Mum worried about Isaac being in the band?
- why did Mum think Isaac would be given a job like carrying water?
- why do you think Isaac enjoys playing the drums?
- the drums are muted so no one can hear what Isaac is playing; why? Is this still inclusive?
- how do you think Isaac feels when he plays with the band?
- How did Mum feel when the band director thanked her for allowing Isaac to play?
- "When inclusion is done well, everyone wins," what does this mean?
- what can we learn from Isaac?
- what can we learn from the band?
- are we inclusive in our school? how?
- why is this a story about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: teaching the equality act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

Reclaiming radical ideas in schools: preparing young children for life in modern Britain by Andrew Moffat