My Summarized Thought
on the Wave Model Interventions
Inclusion is a sense of belonging. The Wave Model proposes
that the first level ‘wave’ toward good inclusive practice is ensuring that all
teachers are teaching to as high a standard as possible, using well-founded
pedagogical principles, including differentiating work to cater for a variety
of needs. The Wave Model proposed a graduated response in which the child was
at the centre. The response started with the universal (i.e. what was available for all), to then move to the targeted (the additional support that
children needed to access the universal) and on to the specialist (highly tailored intervention to support children reach
their potential), when often a more targeted approach would have better met
their need in a more cost-effective manner. Wave 1 strategies focus on mainstream classrooms and are predicated
on the understanding that educating children with disabilities can first be
done by improving teaching and learning for all children, including children
with disabilities and children with special needs (UNIVERSAL). In other words, children with disabilities are expected
to fit into what was available for all. Wave
2 of the model recognizes that children with disabilities have the
potential to work at and above their peers, but to do so they will need direct
intervention which is time-specific (TARGETED).
Wave 3 interventions recognize that
some specific complex impairment makes it impossible for learners to achieve at
the same rate as their non-disabled peers and that, as a result, different
provision is needed through specialist strategies, albeit for a smaller number
of children who have severe disabilities (SPECIALIST).
Each model is working in silo.
The present operative mode whereby each model works in silo
need to be remodeled such that every school will domesticate all the models
effectively for better results. Therefore, all the models can be built into
existing teacher training provision so that in the end, every school is certain
to have special needs teachers with general pedagogical skills to the intent
that all children with disabilities are able to go to school – and not
necessarily go to special schools. There is also a need for partnership to
maximize impact, for example NGOs who are working on Wave 1 quality-first
interventions could work in partnership with NGOs with Wave 2 interventions,
which would generate a greater holistic change. It would also generate greater
efficiencies as it would allow programming to capitalize on the skills,
knowledge and presence of others.
