Beyond Policy: Three Practices Critical to Inclusive Schools

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic — January 16, 2026 — Dr. Gordon L. Porter, Executive Director of Inclusive Education Canada, served as the Closing Keynote Speaker at the III International Conference on Inclusion and Educational Improvement, held at Universidad del Caribe (UNICARIBE) in Santo Domingo.

The conference was delivered in partnership with UNICARIBE and the University of Alcalá de Henares (Madrid, Spain) and brought together approximately 300 teachers and educational leaders from across the region. Participants also joined virtually from Chile and Spain, reflecting the conference’s growing international reach.

Dr. Porter’s keynote address, “Beyond Policy: Three Practices Critical to Inclusive Schools,” concluded the conference on Friday, January 16. His presentation emphasized the importance of moving beyond policy commitments to focus on concrete school and classroom practices that enable and empower teachers to successfully include students with disabilities.

Drawing on international experience and practice-based evidence, the keynote highlighted how inclusive education is ultimately realized through day-to-day instructional decisions, collaborative problem-solving, and shared responsibility within schools.

The conference provided a forum for dialogue, learning, and exchange among educators committed to strengthening inclusive education systems across Latin America and beyond.