Combining students attending traditional education classes and students with exceptionalities is commonly termed as mainstreaming or integration. Inclusion is “the act or practice of including students with disabilities in regular school classes” as defined in Webster's dictionary (Webster, 2003). Ro Vargo was fortunate enough to have parents who closely monitored the learning environment and advocated for their daughter. They followed her education each step of the way. She continued to build on positive responses and outcomes during her educational experiences of inclusion to build her resiliency and reduce the impact of risk.
History has shown that when pushing for more changes in curriculum models to include inclusion, the benefits are apparent for all students in the classroom. However, inclusion is not a one size fits all solution. Some students cannot work in the same classroom as other students, as there are too many distractions created by their peers. Other students may excel in an inclusive setting. Learning and working in the same classroom with peers helps them learn valuable academic and social skills. Each child has to be evaluated on an individual basis to decide optimal placement of inclusion variation (??? ).
Inclusion can create an atmosphere for optimal adaptation in many cases. In comparing and contrasting information gathered from “From my Friend, Ro Vargo” (Villa & Thousand, 2005) and Disorders of Childhood Development and Psychopathology (Parritz & Troy, 2004) the examples show that “the best of what is possible” (Parritz & Troy, 2004, p. 3) is an ideal outcome for exceptional students through the process of academic integration.
The essential needs of every child begin with six basic needs: the need for ...
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...ed from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inclusion. McLeskey, J., & Waldron, N. L. (2011). Educational Programs for Elementary Students with
Learning Disabilities: Can They Be Both Effective and Inclusive? Learning Disabilities Research & Practice, 26(1), 48-57. From the ebscohost.com database.
Ostmeyer, K., & Scarpa, A. (2012). Examining School-Based Social Skills Program Needs and
Barriers for Students with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders Using Participatory Action Research. Psychology in the Schools, 49(10), 932-941. From the ebscohost.com database.
Parritz, R. H., & Troy, M. (2014). Disorders of childhood: development and psychopathology
(2nd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Villa, R. A., & Thousand, J. S. (2005). Creating an inclusive school (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA:
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
This chapter introduces the concepts of exceptional students, the concepts of inclusion, and how these ideas have developed in the Canadian education systems. I have taken classes that cover these concepts before, but it is interesting for me to review them in the light of both my pre-internship and internship experiences. After these experiences I think I am better able to understand these concepts because I have dealt with them as a classroom teacher.
Peterson, J. Michael and Hittie, Marie Michael. Inclusive Teaching : Creating Effective Schools for All Learners. Pearson Publishing. (2003)
Educators can have strong feelings on the subject because having special needs students in a regular classroom can have a large impact on the classroom community. Those who believe in inclusive classrooms realize that, to be successful, it requires allot of classroom management and differentiated instruction, but feel the benefits are worth the work involved. Those who do not believe in inclusion feel that it leads to “l...
Education World: Inclusion: has it gone too far? (1997) Retrieved November 1, 2002, from http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr034.shtml
Shapiro, Art. "Special Education Inclusion, Making it Work." 2005. Education World. 27 March 2011 .
In order for inclusion to be implemented properly it is important that teachers, parents, and administrators to know the definition of inclusion. An inclusion program means that the student spends all or most of their school time in the general education classroom rather than a self-contained classroom. However, the students will still receive the support and interventions they would have received in a self-contained classroom. There are different types of inclusive classrooms where different types of teaching occur. There is co-teaching where there is both a general education teacher and a special education teacher that co teach. Both will work with students that have an individualized education plan (IEP) and the student will receive more support. In addition, an inclusive classroom can have a general education teacher but has the special education teacher as a resource or aid, which qualifies as a collaborative model of inclusion.
If one looks at the word “Inclusion”, its definition states that the word means being a part of something or the feeling of being part of a whole. By looking at this term, one gets a sense about what inclusion education is all about (Karten p. 2). Inclusion education is the mainstreaming of Special Education students into a regular classroom (Harchik). A school that involves inclusive education makes a commitment to educate each and every student to their highest potential by whatever means necessary (Stout). Their goal is for all children, disabled or not, to be able to attend a typical classroom.
There are millions of children that are passing through the United States school system every day, not all children possess the same traits, and not all children can learn at the same rate, and do not perform at the same ability. The fact that all children learn differently and some have difficulties learning in general classrooms, special education was put into place to try and take care of these issues. Special education programs were put into place to help all students with disabilities. These children range from general disabilities to more complex and severe disabilities. There has been a revolution occurring in the past several years with education systems, and special education. There have now been several laws that have been passed that mandate changes in special education and the treatment that children, and parents receive, it also changes how the children are being taught, and how the teachers are to also change and conform to this idea called inclusion. Inclusion in the school system simply is stating that children who have learning disabilities, and more severe disabilities are to be included in the general education environment for as long as possible daily. There has been several different names other than inclusion that have been used, but in present times and since the 1990’s inclusion has been the most common term used. “The change in terminology was pushed in part by the philosophy that inclusion would mean more than only physical placement of children with disabilities in the same classroom, but rather it conveyed that children with disabilities would become a part of larger social, community, and societal systems” (Odom, Buysse, & Soukakou, 2011, para. 3). There has not been just one major law that was passed...
Inclusion in classrooms is defined as combining students with disabilities and students without disabilities together in an educational environment. It provides all students with a better sense of belonging. They will enable friendships and evolve feelings of being a member of a diverse community (Bronson, 1999). Inclusion benefits students without disabilities by developing a sense of helping others and respecting other diverse people. By this, the students will build up an appreciation that everyone has unique yet wonderful abilities and personalities (Bronson, 1999). This will enhance their communication skills later in life. Inclusive classrooms provide students with disabilities a better education on the same level as their peers. Since all students would be in the same educational environment, they would follow the same curriculum and not separate ones based on their disability. The main element to a successful inclusive classroom, is the teachers effort to plan the curriculum to fit all students needs. Teachers must make sure that they are making the material challenging enough for students without special needs and understandable to students with special needs. Inclusive classrooms are beneficial to students with and without special needs.
Inclusion is a basic human right for all students and differences are what make us unique. These differences should be embraced, not shunned. A student with extra educational needs may very well be capable of great things, but only if we, the educators, allow them the chance to be. Inclusion is the way forward
Doyle, M.B. (2002). The Paraprofessional?s Guide to the Inclusive Classroom. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes.
Inclusion is the main issue within the inclusive learning environment, if a child doesn’t feel included within their environment then their learning will be effected by this. The Oxford English Dictionary defines inclusion as “the action or state of including or of being included within a group or structure” (Oxford English Dictionary 2011: Inclusion) This means that every child should feel involved and included, no matter of there different learning abilities or levels. This can mean children who have special educational needs, such as dyslexia, physical disability or metal disability. Inclusion should provide opportunities for all children, no matter of their age, race, gender, disability, religion, ability or their background, to be involved within their learning environment. Each child should feel like they belong and feel like they are...
“What does inclusive education mean for me as a teacher in 2014 and beyond? “
Special education has undergone immense changes through the years. Research and studies on the debate of whether or not inclusion is appropriate for special education students is just beginning to cultivate. The question has always been, what is best for these students? Schools and teachers are becoming leaders in the exploration of new paths, in search of new teaching styles and techniques. Mainstreaming or inclusion at the middle school and high school level, which is educating students with special needs in regular classes with their non-disabled peers, has proven to be beneficial for the special education students cognitive and social developmental needs. It can not only benefit the handicapped student but all students in the classroom.
Research suggests that the integration and inclusion of students with special educational needs can be beneficial to not only the student, but also to the parents, teachers and peers of the student (Stainback, Stainback & Jackson, 1992). It is also suggested that integration and inclusion is also beneficial to students in areas of learning other than academic, including that of emotional and social development.