Transitioning from Primary to Secondary School in Jamaica

Transitioning to secondary school is a significant event for most young people. This right of passage brings both opportunities and challenges. This is especially true for students with disabilities who may experience both academic and social challenges. Many students with disabilities experience the learning environment as exclusionary due to ableist practices as they are expected to fit in, work harder, pay greater attention and learn in the same way and at the same rate as everyone else. Unfortunately for many of these students this is not possible without a level of support and accommodation for their specific learning needs. This work is significant because it provided opportunities for a group of students with disabilities to share the experiences of secondary school. Their stories show that 'one size does not fit all' and illustrates the lack of accommodation and support that students with disabilities often experience at the secondary level of their schooling. Teachers also need to be more responsive to diversity in the classroom and use more effective teaching strategies.