The Including All Citizens Pathway (IACP) is a way of teaching that involves the full inclusion of students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities into undergraduate courses at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) in British Columbia for credit and on an equal basis. This model opens the doors of education by making existing university courses environments where all students can participate and succeed.
Without adapting or modifying curriculum including learning outcomes, IACP uses the principles of inclusion and a critical disability pedagogy to transform teaching and deliver curriculum to a wide range of learners. This is a student-centred learning environment where everyone is included and valued on equal basis, thereby making it an exemplary learning experience for all. IACP is one of the first fully inclusive, for-credit university opportunities in North America.
Currently, students in IACP work towards a Faculty of Arts, Certificate in Arts, an exit credential consisting of 30 undergraduate credits (10 courses) that is fully transferable through the BC Council on Admissions and Transfer. The Arts Certificate pre-exists IACP and is designed to provide an educational experience that prepares students for work, citizenship, and critical engagement with their communities.
The Including All Citizens pilot was launched in spring 2016 and included five students with intellectual disabilities taking one Faculty of Arts course each term to complete their Certificate. The first three graduates of the program finished their certificates in December 2020!
Image Description: two white female Including All Citizens graduates wearing graduation robes and hats smiling. One graduate is holding flowers.
To read about our first graduates, please read the article found here:
KPU announces first students to graduate in ground-breaking fully inclusive program
Watch/listen to this video to hear more about inclusive education and IACP