Our focus is on the inclusion of children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the typical classroom. Inclusion in the classroom can be defined as, “identifying, understanding and breaking down barriers to participation and belonging” (Guldberg, 2010, p. 168). We want to highlight the positive impacts as well as some challenges that inclusion has on both children who have autism and the other children in the classroom.

​

This is very significant in the field of diverse needs in Canada as the diagnosis of children who have ASD is becoming more common in today’s society. Teachers need to be educated and flexible in their planning and designing of the learning environment. Awareness is key for inclusion to be put in place within classrooms and gives teachers the opportunity to be role models for their students and educate them about ASD so as to create a better understanding of how their classmates who have ASD view the world. By doing this, it allows the children in the classroom to take on a leadership role and be more accepting and empathetic towards their peers and the many diverse needs found within the classroom.