Being an Inclusion Ambassador

Making friends, helping others and improving education for young people with additional support needs – Meg and Milo share why it is important for them to be members of the Inclusion Ambassadors.

Meg, Alva Academy

Illustration by Ellie Swartzentruber

I first heard about the Inclusion Ambassadors after my school applied for the Success Looks Different Awards. We ended up winning and after the Inclusion Ambassadors visited our school to present us with the award, they asked if someone from Alva Academy would like to join the group – and I was keen to put myself forward!

Before this though, I had spoken out in my school about my experience of having dyslexia and how this has impacted my time at school. A teacher at my school asked a group of us with dyslexia if we wanted to help plan an assembly to mark Dyslexia Awareness Week. Well, this ended up with me – only in S1 – speaking to the whole school about my experiences.

My school has been great in supporting me, but I know lots of people don’t currently get the support that they need to succeed. Being a member of the Inclusion Ambassadors gives me an opportunity to help change this and help make sure that other pupils across Scotland can get the support that I’ve been able to get.

My favourite thing about being in the Inclusion Ambassadors is hearing about the experiences of other members from schools across Scotland. There are many things that are so similar between all of our experiences, but other things that make me think, ‘wow I can’t believe that’s been allowed to happen’.

Being a part of the Inclusion Ambassadors group has given me even more desire to help others – especially pupils like me who need additional support in school. Seeing what the Inclusion Ambassadors have achieved has taught me to dream big!

Milo, Duncanrig Secondary School

Illustration by Ellie Swartzentruber

Being an Inclusion Ambassador is something that I became interested in during my third year, so I decided to apply and luckily I got the role!

The first time I went to a meeting I was a bit nervous, but everyone was so friendly and welcoming.

We do activities like getting to know one another, finding ways to help promote more inclusion in school and to help people who struggle a bit more than others. We also do fun things when we meet up. We do creative things and have intellectual discussions on topics like what teachers can do to help students.

I enjoy helping to promote inclusion in schools. We had a call with people at the Scottish Parliament and gave our insights into what school is like for people who can struggle to keep up with work. We explained how we try to help by coming up with strategies and methods for students who have autism, dyslexia, ADHD and dyspraxia, helping them to get the qualifications for leaving school. We serve a role by supporting those who need a bit more help.

My hope for the future is to see an increase in additional support for learning as there are so many people who would benefit. We need to make people aware of the teaching methods that can help, while keeping it fun and entertaining! I am lucky to be part of a base with access to the mainstream. Every school should have this.

It is important for young people like me to be involved, to share our views and experiences. It’s difficult for people like teachers to understand if they’ve found learning much easier. As neurodiversity wasn’t as known about years ago, older people might not be as aware.