Inclusive Education
Students with developmental disabilities come to college for the same reasons that other college students do:
- to further their education
- to develop lifelong friendships
- to develop career opportunities through practicums
- to gain independence
- to create life enriching experiences
Inclusive education is how. We've offered inclusive education at Lakeland College since 2008.
How it works
Participating students audit courses. But they also:
- set goals
- receive a certificate of achievement
Inclusive education is flexible. Learning pace is set to the individual. Course assignments and exams are adapted. If the program has a practicum, they go on the practicum.
Inclusion in the classroom is only one component of the program. The other is inclusion in campus life. A 3-way partnership between the student, program staff and instructors ensure a positive experience.
This program runs year-round. We encourage our students to find work in the summer.
If you, or someone you know, is interested in learning more about this initiative, please contact Jackie Rokochy by
- calling 780 872 8396
- emailing jackie.rokochy@lakelandcollege.ca
Lakeland student, alumni and instructor stories
Kendra Morrison, and her family are featured in the first half of this video.
History of inclusive education
Inclusive post secondary education is defined as facilitating the inclusion of students with developmental disabilities in regular programs of study and campus life.
Alberta has more inclusive post-secondary initiatives and more experience with inclusive post secondary education than any jurisdiction in the world.
Begun by families with the support of advocates in 1987, the University of Alberta became the first university to offer inclusive post secondary education. The Alberta Association for Community Living and the provincially funded Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) supported post-secondary programs for many years.
Now Inclusion Alberta partners with more than 20 post-secondary institutions across the province offering inclusive educational opportunities to students with developmental disabilities.
In the past 30 years students have taken a variety of programs at colleges and universities across the province. This has included golf operations management, personal trainer, digital arts and media, animal health technology and nursing.
Inclusion Alberta is a family-based, non-profit federation of more than 40 organizations from across Alberta.
Inclusive post-secondary education is only one of the programs it offers.
