Review for The Teacher Magazine published January/February 2005
“All Equal All Different” is an excellent new resource pack for schools. Now that all schools are becoming inclusive, it is essential for us as teachers to have sound information and resources at hand which support us in the understanding and practice of inclusion in our schools.
The school I work at as an EMAG Co-ordinator, St. Matthias in Hackney London has recently purchased the pack All Equal All Different.
As a school that has several children with varying disabilities, we as teachers have found that we need as much information and support as we can get. This pack is proving to be a welcome resource for us as teachers and also for support staff.
The pack includes a variety of well-produced resources. There is an enjoyable and enlightening board game called “The Access Game” which is all about physical access for people with physical disabilities.
There are six story books written by disabled people.
Especially handy for displays is a pack of 16 A3 posters showing images of inclusion in schools.
A video of 10 signed nursery songs.
An A-Z and Counting books featuring images of children from an inclusive nursery.
I especially liked the book “Disabled People Who Have Made a Difference”. The book features over 40 disabled people and their contributions to our world. It is an excellent resource as it covers achievements ranging through sports, science, the arts and political activists. The profiles are set out in an easy to photocopy format with a photo and introduction to the achievements of that individual.
Indispensable to teachers and TA’s are the two practitioners guides “All Equal All Different” & “Everybody In”. These two guides are bursting with useful tips and information. “Everybody In” includes information such as who disabled children are, what the law requires, medical models, curriculum, teaching and learning with additional information on resource’s and useful organisations.
“All Equal All Different” touches on issues such as discussing disability within class, looking at the representation of disabled people in traditional stories, stereotypes and communicating with deaf and blind people. It has a handy checklist for Good Practice in the Classroom.
This resource has come at a time when as teachers we are expected to practise in an inclusive manner, both by the law and ethically, but many teachers and classroom practicioners feel unsupported in how to go about this “the right way”. This pack at least gives a lot of practical advice and guidance and as such should be an essential resource in all education institutions.
The pack is avalable to be purchased from DEE ( Disability Equality in Education), Unit GL Leroy House, 436 Essex Road, London N1 3QP
Or online at for £75 inc postage or orders of 10 packs or over £60 each. Orders and additional information can also be obtained on 020 7359 2855.
Article written by Victoria Gelberg, EMAG co-ordinator at St. Matthias Primary School, Hackney, London