Play and Disabilities

 Reflection: Inclusion as a Universal Design for Play🌈🌈

Our final session on play and disabilities completely reframed my point of view on inclusion. The Mirror game was a joyful activity for me, illustrating how play builds an affective classroom climate where students with diverse emotional and social needs can find a sense of success. I was once again reminded of the core principles of UDL, stating the strong line that the curriculum is disabled when it fails to meet a learner's needs, rather than the learner themselves being the problem. 

Participating in the chocolate activity demonstrated the power of differentiated instruction. It showed me that by providing multiple means of representation, engagement and expression can spark the unique strengths in any child and honouring them despite barriers. Recalling my ECCD visit, I now realize that removing physical barriers like iron nails is a prerequisite for inclusion. 



Furthermore, the slide featuring diverse animals tasked with climbing a tree was a powerful meta moment for me. It perfectly shows that one size doesn't fit all and that a curriculum is disabled when it fails to provide alternatives for everyone. This insight hit me personally; as a gay man, I have often felt the weight of being judged against a narrow, one-size-fits-all societal standard that didn't represent my identity. 



Way Forward...

Just as we adapt play for the children with disabilities, I realize that my future classroom must value every form of difference. Using DI, I will meet my students where they are, ensuring that gender and orientation, just like physical disability are never a barrier to success. I am committed to being a facilitator on the side who will nurture a garden of children where every unique soul is empowered to grow without fear. 




Comments

  1. Sangay ChodenMay 17, 2026 at 5:44 AM

    Bumps.. such a beautiful write up … indeed mirror game was joyful activity… which is more suitable for SEN students .. also UDL is essential for making inclusive education.💜

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sonam Tashi_040403May 17, 2026 at 8:11 AM

    wow........I wish you would become that teacher you aspire to be and Best of luck

    ReplyDelete
  3. TandinzangmoMay 17, 2026 at 8:29 AM

    I can mirror you Bumpa! I also equally enjoyed the mirror game! You did a great job putting the learnings togther in such a visually appealing manner!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Chador WangmoMay 18, 2026 at 8:01 AM

    The photos and graphics look amazing. They fit your stories perfectly Bumpa!

    ReplyDelete
  5. karma'swebMay 19, 2026 at 6:29 AM

    I absolutely enjoyed reading your piece! Visual representation made it even better for me to comprehend and practice toward becoming a teacher who practices UDL and inclusive education.

    ReplyDelete
  6. PhunTshoWMay 19, 2026 at 10:18 AM

    This is such a profound and beautifully written reflection. Your connection between Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and your own personal experience really drives home the truth that the system must adapt to the individual, never the other way around. You are going to create an incredibly safe, empowering, and beautifully diverse classroom as a teacher!

    ReplyDelete

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