Accessible VET
Internet connection and a digital device (tablet, Smartphone, PC)
This unit will introduce the idea of accessibility that makes VET open to people with disabilities and boosts social and economic cohesion, as it provides them with employable skills.
What is Social Inclusion in Education?
Social inclusion in education refers to the principle of providing all individuals, regardless of their background or personal characteristics, with equal access to education and ensuring that they are able to participate fully in educational opportunities. It involves creating an inclusive educational environment that values diversity, promotes equity, and recognises and addresses the barriers that can prevent some groups of students from accessing and succeeding in education.
Social inclusion in education is not just about ensuring equal access to education, but also about addressing the factors that can create inequality in education, such as poverty, discrimination, disability, or language barriers (Saifullah Khan,2021). It involves providing support and resources to those who face greater challenges in education, and creating educational programs and practices that are inclusive and responsive to diverse student needs.
Social inclusion in education can have positive outcomes for both individuals and society as a whole. It can promote social mobility, reduce poverty and inequality, enhance social cohesion and civic engagement, and contribute to economic growth and development.
Overall, social inclusion in education is a multifaceted concept that requires a comprehensive and coordinated effort across different sectors and stakeholders to create an equitable and inclusive education system that benefits all learners.
What is accessible VET Education?
Accessible VET education refers to vocational education and training programs that are available and attainable to all individuals, regardless of their background, socioeconomic status, physical abilities, or geographic location.
This type of education is designed to provide individuals with the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to succeed in the workforce and achieve their career goals (UNESCO, 2019). Accessible VET education programs are typically offered through a variety of channels, such as online learning platforms, community colleges, vocational schools, apprenticeships, and workplace training programs.
Some of the key features of accessible VET education include flexible learning options, affordable tuition fees, and support services for learners with disabilities or other special needs. Accessible VET education can also include programs that provide pathways to higher education or help individuals transition into new careers.
Overall, accessible VET education is aimed at providing equal opportunities for all individuals to develop their skills and pursue meaningful careers, regardless of their circumstances.
How VET can be accessible to people with disabilities?
Making VET education accessible to people with disabilities requires addressing physical, sensory, and cognitive barriers that may limit their participation and engagement in learning (Jean McGuiness,2002). Here are some strategies to consider:
- Accessibility of learning materials: Ensuring that learning materials are available in accessible formats, such as Braille, large print, audio, or electronic text, and that they comply with accessibility standards and guidelines.
- Assistive technology: Providing access to assistive technology and devices, such as screen readers, speech recognition software, captioning, or hearing loops, to support learners with visual, auditory, or physical impairments.
- Universal design: Incorporating principles of universal design in the development of learning materials, facilities, and technologies, to ensure that they are usable by all learners, regardless of their abilities.
- Flexible learning options: Offering flexible modes of delivery, such as online learning, distance education, or part-time and evening classes, that allow learners to study at their own pace and adapt to their needs.
- Accessible facilities: Ensuring that learning facilities, such as classrooms, libraries, and labs, are accessible and meet relevant building codes and standards for accessibility, including ramps, lifts, accessible toilets, and signage.
- Support services: Providing support services for learners with disabilities, such as disability advisors, learning support coordinators, or peer mentors, who can provide guidance, advocacy, and assistance with academic and personal challenges.
- Inclusive teaching practices: Adopting inclusive teaching practices that value diversity and promote participation and engagement by all learners, such as providing clear instructions, using multiple modes of presentation, and providing opportunities for peer collaboration and feedback.
Overall, creating an accessible VET environment for people with disabilities requires a proactive and collaborative approach that involves stakeholders such as educators, disability service providers, and learners themselves. (Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training). It is important to continually review and improve accessibility measures to ensure that they meet the evolving needs and expectations of learners with disabilities.
Vocational Education must ensure that all individuals have access to the training process.
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Please give a description of the practical work content in this unit and how participants will be asked to engage
- Interesting article (PDF) on VET accessibility: https://www.mdpi.com › pdf
- The Disability Standards for Education 2005 clarify what education and training providers are required to do and aim to guarantee that students with disabilities are able to receive an education and participate in it in the same way as students without disabilities. https://www.education.gov.au/disability-standards-education-2005
- Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning for all is the SDG Goal 4. Learn more here: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/education/
- UNESCO’s guide for ensuring inclusion and equity in education: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000248254
Inclusion in education: The term refers to the practice of ensuring that all students, regardless of their backgrounds or abilities, have equal access to education and are fully integrated into the mainstream educational environment. It involves providing appropriate support and accommodations to students with diverse learning needs, including those with disabilities, learning difficulties, or other special educational needs, so they can participate fully in all aspects of the educational experience. Inclusion in education also requires creating a supportive and welcoming learning environment that values diversity and promotes social and emotional well-being. The goal of inclusion in education is to provide every student with the opportunity to learn and succeed, and to promote social justice by removing barriers to education for marginalised groups.
VET accessibility: the term refers to the practice of ensuring that vocational education and training (VET) services are available and accessible to all individuals, regardless of their individual backgrounds or needs. This includes providing appropriate support and accommodations to students with disabilities, learning difficulties, or other special educational needs, so they can fully participate in VET courses and programs. VET accessibility also involves creating a physical and virtual learning environment that is welcoming, supportive, and inclusive for all students, and providing the necessary technology, equipment, and resources to facilitate learning for all. The goal of VET accessibility is to provide every student with the opportunity to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the workforce, and to promote social justice by removing barriers to education and training for marginalized groups.
Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training. (2022). Creating Accessible Content
Department of Education, Skills and Employment. (2015). Disability Standards for Education
Jennifer. (2020). Accessibility for People With Disabilities in Vocational Education.
Karas, A. (2022, April 8). What is Accessible Education? Equality vs Equity in Inclusive Learning.
Mcguiness, J. (2002). Pathways 6 Conference 2002 Inclusion: Practical Ideas for Adapting the VET Environment for Students with Disabilities.
Taneja-Johansson, S., & Singal, N. (2021). Pathways to inclusive and equitable quality education for people with disabilities: cross-context conversations and mutual learning.
UNESCO. (2017). A Decade of Progress on Education for Sustainable Development.
UNESCO. (2017). A guide for ensuring inclusion and equity in education.