Inclusion

The Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of inclusion is, “the act of including: the state of being included.” In terms of education, inclusion is when children with special needs are placed in classrooms with typically developing peers. While the practice of inclusion is fairly new in the education world, it is already widely spread and is being greatly pushed (Odom, Parrish, 2001, pg. 33). The opposite of inclusion or the alternative to an inclusion classroom would be a self-contained classroom, which is sometimes called a specialized classroom. These are classrooms in which only students with disabilities are enrolled. There are becoming less and less of these classrooms because federal legislation mandates that, “all children with disabilities receive educational services in a setting with or in close proximity to, children who do not have disabilities” (Holahan, Costenbader, 2000, pg. 225).
There has been this big push for inclusion classrooms because many studies have shown that it is good for both the child with disabilities and the typical child to be in an inclusion classroom. There is a lot of evidence to support the fact that children with disabilities do better in the least restrictive environment. Teachers and parents alike want all children with disabilities to be able to “fit in”. They want the children to be independent and have as regular of a life as they can. While this may not be realistic for some children, it is important to find the least restrictive environment for that individual child. Whether it is an inclusion classroom, a general education classroom, or a self-contained classroom, the best interest of the child should always be kept at heart.
Just as any great idea has its drawbacks, inclusi...

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... inclusive placements over the last few years has occurred for those students with the mildest forms of a disability” (Palmer, 2001, pg. 467). Teachers, especially untrained teachers, would be much more comfortable helping and teaching a child who is mildly disabled than a child who is severely disabled. It is easier to care for someone who has only one disability rather than someone who has multiple disabilities.
There are many different views on inclusion classrooms from the view of the parents of children with special needs. Many family members of special education students express favorable attitudes towards the inclusion of their children in inclusive settings (Odom, 2000, pg. 21). However, not all families feel the same way. Here are three different views from parents regarding the placement of their children with special needs in an inclusion classroom: