The Benefits Of Inclusion In Education

1007 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Positive and negative impacts of inclusion on special education students

The American public school system has been moving towards full inclusion of students with disabilities into general education classrooms. This is one of the largest controversies faced by schools today. Many administrators, teachers, and parents still question the implications mandated inclusion include. Research has suggested that most teachers support the concept of inclusion, but fear not being able to make it successful in their classrooms. The practice of inclusion came because of the mainstreaming movement that occurred when the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was passed. The term inclusion did not become widespread until the 1990s. It is used in place of mainstreaming and integration. It involves providing …show more content…

In 1996, the National Down Syndrome Society published a research report on the inclusion of children with Down syndrome in general education classes. After comparing extensive parent and teacher questionnaires, the study found that with proper support and sufficient communication between parents, teachers, and other supports on the team, inclusion is a favorable educational placement for children with Down syndrome. The study also found that the learning characteristics of students with special needs were more similar to their nondisabled peers than they were different. Additionally, teachers reported positive experiences with students with Down syndrome. They described their students as eager to learn and reported personal satisfaction in terms of their professional achievements (Wolpert, …show more content…

The study also found that inclusive education resulted in more positive, social relationships. These differences were made possible by the educational arrangement characterizing the school, not merely by the students themselves. Furthermore, the positive effects of the inclusion experience on the students without a disability included 1. a reduced fear of human differences accompanied by increased comfort and awareness, 2. a growth in social tolerance, 3. an improvement in self-concept, 4. Enhanced development of personal principles, and 5. the experience of warm and caring friendships (Advocacy for Inclusion,

Show More
Related

  • School Inclusion Case Study

    1432 Words  | 3 Pages

    school placement (Gabel & Danforth, 2008, p.42). An approach to inclusion that The United States maintains is that the educational settings are based on each child’s individual case.

    Read More

  • Inclusion in the Public School Classroom

    1541 Words  | 4 Pages

    What is inclusion? Inclusion learning is the idea that regardless of a child’s disability they are considered access to a regular education setting that will provide the learning aides needed for that child to learn successfully. The debate of inclusion learning has been on the table for many years. According to the U.S. Department of Education's report to congress in the 2006 school year there were 701,949 children between the ages of three and five years old being served for special needs under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA)(17). The IDEA was introduced in 1997 as an amendment to the 1975 Education for All Handicapped Children Act. This amendment was to “to ensure free and appropriate education for children of all learning and physical disabilities in the least restricted environment” (Individuals with DisabilitiesEducation Act Amendments of 1997). One of the purposes of the IDEA law was “...

    Read More

  • Taking Sides: Inclusion

    605 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to Stout (2001) the concept of inclusion can be differentiated into mainstreaming, inclusion and full inclusion each describing the amount of time special education students become part of a normal education classes. “Inclusion is a term which expresses the commitment to educate each child, to the maximum extent possible, in the school and classroom he or she would otherwise attend” (definitions section, para. 2). This commitment is based on the belief that special needs students would profit from the regular classroom environment (Noll, 2014, p. 225). According to Stout (2001) research based evidence supports this belief as “Recent meta-analyses confirm a small to moderate beneficial effect of inclusion education on the academic and social outcome of special needs students” (Research section, para. 3). There are many who also believe that inclusion is good for the overall class as it can teach empathy, and “teaches us to think about we rather than I” (Sapon-Shevin, 2008, p227). There are others however, who feel that “Contrary to some egalitarians, a good society honors those who through intelligent good will, artistic talent, athletic prowess, or plain honest hard work make our lives better” (Carpenter, 2008, p.235) and therefore believe that it is ok to think of “I” and not we.

    Read More

  • From Inclusion to Friendship

    1876 Words  | 4 Pages

    “The 1% of US students with labels of severe disabilities including mental retardation have been historically excluded from ‘inclusive’ education” (Bentley, 2008, p. 543). Laws such as PL 94-142 and “No Child Left Behind” (as cited in Bentley), say that ‘public school students with all types of disabilities be educated in the least restrictive environment—‘to the maximum extent possible…with children who do not have disabilities’ the majority of these students with special education labels, such as, mental retardation and multiple disabilities are still isolated in special education classrooms (Bentley, 2008, p. 545). Wehmeyer (as cited in Bentley), points out that mere access does not promote authentic participation (Bentley, 2008, p. 546). Burkowski et al (as cited in Webster and Cater), “Friendship has been defined as a bond between two individuals that is stable across time and involves mutual affection, mutual preference and having fun together” (Webster and Carter, 2007, p. 201). It is up to parents, teachers and other paraprofessionals to seek ways to facilitate and encourage the types of positive interactions that will foster these types of friendships. If done successfully all students will benefit and there will be true inclusion.

    Read More

  • Inclusion In Education Essay

    1109 Words  | 3 Pages

    Inclusion in the classroom is a topic that I did not fully understand when I first became a special education teacher. Studying inclusion and all the aspect that it encompasses has enlighten me to the complexities of inclusion in the classroom. Inclusion has expanded to every facet of school activities outside the classroom. I am going on my fifth year of being a special education teacher and continuously find the need for additional education and training among the staff and administration. I feel having a comprehensive understanding has made me a better educator and advocate for children with disabilities.

    Read More

  • Special Education: Examining the Pros and Cons of Inclusion in Education

    1069 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Inclusion in the Classroom

    2430 Words  | 5 Pages

    Inclusion has adapted to refer to the inclusion of handicapped students in general education classes, but there are many other ways to refer to inclusion. In the early stages inclusion was referred to as integration, it is now defined as ?mixing or combining of programs for children with disabilities and children who do not have disabilities.? (Cavallaro & Haney 1999) It also was referred to as mainstreaming, or the ?reentry of children with mild disabilities to regular education settings. Children may be mainstreamed for part or all of a day, and they may or may not receive any special education support or services in the mainstreamed environment.? (Cavallaro & Haney 1999) After awhile these two concepts of integration and mainstreaming were merged together to what is now known as inclusion; which is putting disabled children in general education classes as much as possible and only being pulled out with reason to believe that it is necessary.

    Read More

  • Pros and Cons of Inclusion

    1351 Words  | 3 Pages

    Inclusion 'mainstreams' physically, mentally, and multiply disabled children into regular classrooms. In the fifties and sixties, disabled children were not allowed in regular classrooms. In 1975 Congress passed the Education of all Handicapped Students Act, now called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA mandates that all children, regardless of disability, had the right to free, appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. Different states have different variations of the law. Some allow special needs students to be in a regular education classroom all day and for every subject, and others allow special education students to be in a regular education classroom for some subjects and in a separate classroom for the rest. There are many different views on inclusive education. In this paper I will address some of the positive and negative views on inclusion and ways to prepare educators for inclusive education.

    Read More

  • Inclusion And Philosophy Of Early Childhood Special Education

    717 Words  | 2 Pages

    The true purpose of school is to prepare children for their future in becoming lifelong learners and global citizens. For children with special needs, special education services prepare and provide support for them in dealing with the challenges they face daily. Laws such as Individuals with Disabilities Education Act has enforced schools to provide education to all children and reinforces the purpose of the school, which is to provide children the Least Restrictive Environment to help them develop to their optimal potential. There are myriad of concerns regarding inclusion’s effect on typical developing students, yet a research done by Bui, Quirk, Almazan, and Valenti shows that “[p]resence of students with disabilities results in greater number of typical students making reading and math progress compared to non-inclusive general education classes” (p. 3). Therefore, inclusion not only benefits children with disabilities, but it also benefits typical developing student’s academic skills and allows them to learn acceptance and respect for students with disabilities.

    Read More

  • Inclusion Paper

    707 Words  | 2 Pages

    The idea of inclusion within a classroom tends to breed controversy from many people. Currently there is no clear consensus on a definition of inclusion (Heward, 2006). There are many different views on how students with disabilities should be handled. Those views ranged from students being fully included, partially included, or not included at all in mainstream schooling. Different descriptions of inclusion tend to reflect the person's own opinions towards it. People who feel students should not be included in the classroom focus on the negative characteristics of inclusion, such as the challenges of developing plans for students as well as the hard work it requires to incorporate those plans. However, studies show that full inclusion has many benefits to the students, for both students with disabilities as well as students without them. Inclusion has shown to improve the student's social skills, encourage communication, inspire laws and regulations, and improve the overall schooling experience (Gargiulo, 2012). Although it will take longer then some would like or have the patience for, full inclusion can be done in the classroom, with its benefits outweighing the hard work that it requires.

    Read More

  • Inclusion in the Classroom

    1625 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Down Syndrome Argumentative Essay

    517 Words  | 2 Pages

    Studies have shown that there are several benefits to an inclusive education for students with Down syndrome (National Down Syndrome Society). Since 1996, the National Down Syndrome Society has done research on the inclusion of young students with Down syndrome in general education classrooms (National Down Syndrome Society). The study has found that students with Down syndrome had similar learning characteristics, more so than different when compared to their nondisabled peers (National Down Syndrome Society). Teachers that were involved in this study, reported that they had more positive experiences with students with Down syndrome when they were grouped with their nondisabled peers (National Down Syndrome

    Read More

  • People with Disabilities Need Inclusion

    2230 Words  | 5 Pages

    Inclusion does not only benefit the student, but the parents, teachers, school and the community. It is about understanding additional needs rather than ignoring them and allowing the student every chance that students without difficulties/disabilities have available to them

    Read More

  • Inclusive Education

    1028 Words  | 3 Pages

    Konza, D. (2008). Inclusion of students with disabilities in new times: responding to the challenge.

    Read More

  • Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities

    1625 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...uire to development special education systems and inclusive programs, must be able to accept the possibility for total reconstruction of their current system. The administrators must plan extensive training to all members of the organization to better inform, educate and implement the desired program or system. As inclusion becomes more widespread, research and data must be analyzed to determine specific, effective strategies in creating successful systems for the school, community and most of all, people with disabilities (Wisconsin Education Association Council, 2007). Once there is appropriate research and data to show positive outcomes and strategies for offering effective inclusive education, educators and administrators must make the best of what information is currently available today and continue creating equal opportunities to quality education for all.

    Read More

More about The Benefits Of Inclusion In Education

Open Document