Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/inclusion-a-students-perspective/5020161/
I am 13 years old and I would like to talk about Aisyah, who has Down Syndrome. I was five years old when I met her. I liked her a lot as she would always tag along with me. Although we were the same age, she was unable to speak. Her looks were different. She needed diapers and a bottle for her milk. Still, she was not treated any different from my other friends and me. We were in the same class for two years. I then moved on to primary school and still kept in touch with her as our mums were friends.Our friendship brought me pleasure, comfort, and distress. Most importantly, it taught me a lot about growing up in a social world. Aisyah endured painful experiences like being teased or shamed, but I found her so unique. She was born with a distinct social talent that simply allowed friendships to form, while others have to be taught how to relate. I felt good when I had the opportunity to assist Aisyah or to defend her. I felt like a teacher. Friendships like ours cannot happen in a typical classroom. But in an inclusive classroom all children learn to ...