image: Professors of the Faculty of Education Sciences of the UMA Ignacio Calderon, María Teresa Rascon and Luz del Valle Mojta
Credit: University of Malaga/Agencia EFE
Working toward a school where everyone fits in, regardless of their social class, nationality, ethnic group, abilities, sexual orientation or gender identity, is the goal of the project promoted by the University of Malaga ‘Estudiantes por la inclusión’ (Students for inclusion), which has just won the World Down Syndrome Award 2023.
This work is part of the line of research “Emerging narratives about the inclusive school based on the Social Model of Disability. Resistance, resilience, and social change”, which began in 2008, directed by the professors of the Faculty of Education Sciences of the UMA Ignacio Calderón and María Teresa Rascón.
Likewise, the researcher of the UMA Luz del Valle Mojtar also participates in this initiative, promoting the ‘Youth Participatory Action’ research developed by the team of students recognized with this world award that has created the guide ‘How to make your school inclusive’, aimed at high school students and published by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Vocational Training.
These students have also participated in congresses and workshops, have appeared in the media, show great "activism" on social media and have starred a documentary that has already been released in ten countries, according to the researcher of the UMA Ignacio Calderón.
Everyone fits in the classroom
Although the subject of the award received is Down syndrome, this concept of inclusive education "not only refers to people with disabilities, but to all people and how the school encourages processes in which everyone can participate".
"That means that there isn’t a model student, but many ways of being, and the school has the obligation to address all of them. Everyone fits in the classroom and the question cannot remain as to whether inclusive education should be implemented or not, but how we do it," highlights the UMA researcher.
Presentation at the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York
Being also recognized by the American Educational Research Association, the World Down Syndrome Award 2023 is "a strong boost" for the project, "but particularly for this group of students".
On the occasion of this recent distinction, the project will be presented on March 21, 2024, World Down Syndrome Day, at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York.