Briefly discuss how you think policies and legislation related to inclusive education could influence attitudes about how society accepts difference. In recent times, I think there has been an increased awareness of the need to develop inclusive classrooms that celebrate difference and cater for a wide range of learning styles and needs. My belief is reflected in the growing number of policies and laws being developed at the State and Commonwealth level. These approaches range from anti-discrimination laws, child protection, disability services and privacy legislation. Here are some examples of the most recent approaches designed to promote and support inclusive education: • School Improvement and Accountability Framework – Destination Action Plan 2010, 2006 – 2008 • Disability Standards for Education, 2005 • Framework for Gifted Education, 2009 All policies and legislation have been designed to ensure that every child, regardless of their difference, is included throughout the education system. Additionally, all legislative policies developed by the government must now take into account the rights of all students with disabilities (Ashman & Elkins, 2009). This reinforces that policies and legislation contribute to developing a positive attitude towards inclusive education. The Declaration on Inclusive Education (2005) is an ideal example of how accommodating difference is addressed in modern classrooms. This statement has the power to positively influence the values, attitudes and beliefs of an entire school community regarding the integration of inclusive education. Specifically, Mintz (2007) found that when teachers are exposed to highly diverse classroom environments, it has a positive effect on all students. Works Cited Ashman, A. and Elkins, J. (2009). Education for Inclusion and Diversity – 3. PearsonEducation Australia: Australia. Hattie, J. (2003). Teachers make the difference: what is the research evidence? Australian Council for Educational Research Conference, October. Mintz, J. (2007). Attitudes of initial primary teacher training students towards special educational needs and inclusion. Learning Support, 22(1), p.3.Queensland Education (2010). CRP-PR-009: Inclusive education. Retrieved from the WorldWide Web on March 17, 2010: http://education.qld.gov.au/strategic/eppr/curriculum/crppr009/Queensland Education (2005). Declaration on inclusive education. Retrieved from the WorldWide Web on March 5, 2010: http://education.qld.gov.au/studentservices/learning/docs/includedstatement2005.pdf