Inclusion is a process by which a school expands its resources to meet the learning needs, physical needs and emotional needs of all types needed by any of its student.
The provision of providing quality education to all types of children including children with special needs near their place of residence can only be possible through the adoption of the philosophy of inclusion in place of segregation.
According to -
Michael F. Giangreco (1997) - Inclusive education is a set of values, principles and practices that seek more effective and meaningful education for all students regardless of whether they have exceptionality labels or not.
Stainback and Stainback (1992) - Inclusive school or setup may be defined as a place where everyone belongs, is accepted, supports and is supported by his or her peers and other members of the school community in the course of having his or her educational needs met.
Inclusive education is nothing but making the programme for disabled children as an integral part of the general educational system rather than a system within general education.
It works on the principle of inclusion, i.e., including all.
Here, for the general education, the neighbourhood school is regarded as the first option for any special child.
Here exceptional/disabled children may get unique opportunities to get education with peers in the same age groups available to those without exceptionality.
Teaches everyone together in a general classroom.
It helps in putting the disabled students into the mainstream of the educational system.
As a policy matter inclusive education provides a right to the disabled children for being educated with the non-disabled children without any differentiation or discrimination.
It seeks for all-round development of the disabled children through various academic, physical, social, emotional and vocational education programmes.
It helps disabled children learn the art of living.
It helps in the development of the feelings of inclusion in every student (normal or exceptional).
It places disabled children as equal partners and provides education to them without any bias.
It tries to bring desired educational opportunities at the doorstep of the exceptional/desired children.
It helps refine the special abilities of the students.
It creates a need of adaptation on the part of school by making the primary teaching and curriculum more flexible.
It helps children with disabilities to establish friendship with non-disabled peers and persons in their community.
It helps to change stereotypic thinking about disabilities among normally developing children, school personnel and community.
It helps exceptional/disabled children to develop social skills which in turn will enable them to interact more effectively with others in the society.
By all means, an inclusive education provides a foundation for the exceptional/disabled children in ways that are not possible in special education schools and classes.
To develop the level of education to the needs of every student.
To help bring social equality among disabled and normal students.
For the generalisation of education.
To create opportunities of the employment/job for every type of student.
To make students self-reliant and self-supporting individuals who can contribute in their own ways to the advancement of community and prosperity of the state.
Formation of a constitutional responsibility towards equal and quality education for disabled children.
Development of republic traits among students.
To make every children capable of developing their individual life.
To help bring a just inclusion in every aspect of the society.
To help bring a feeling of satisfaction on parents towards their exceptional/disabled child.
In view of such nature and characteristics of inclusive education it may stand for a type of education committed to educate every child to the maximum extent possible in the school and classroom.
It thus requires support to move towards the child and believes that the disabled child will benefits from such integration and mainstreaming in comparison to placing him in some segregating setting for his overall adjustment and progress.