In 2004 the federal government reauthorized the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or (IDEA), which was originally established in 1975. Under the legislation, all students, including those with mental, physical and emotional disabilities, are entitled to a free and appropriate public education (“Education Commission of the States”, 2013). Since the implementation of the act many issues have arisen concerning special education programs in America’s public schools. One of the most important issues in special education is segregation. Segregation is the separation of individuals or groups of children (Reynolds, 1962). Many people argue that it is best for students with disabilities, special needs, and/or disadvantages to be taught in separate environments than “regular” or “gifted” students, while some say that the separation is holding these children back. There are a variety of programs that comprise special education and they vary `based on the needs of individual children, and the type of school itself. There are four main types of special education classrooms, and each has its supporters and critics, but all that matters is what makes the most sense for each child, because every child is different. There are inclusion classes, resource rooms, self-contained classes, and out of district placements. Many teachers and parents of special ed. students debate over the effectiveness of these different types of classrooms, especially between inclusive and self-contained classrooms. Upon first glance an inclusion classroom may seem to be the same as a regular education classroom, but there are some significant differences. Normally a regular education teacher and a special education teacher who work together teach the inclus... ... middle of paper ... ...ion. Retrieved December 3, 2013, from http://www.ecs.org/html/issue.asp?issueid=112 Glade, J. (2012, December 12). The Advantages and Disadvantages of Resource. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Resource. Retrieved December 3, 2013, from http://wwwbenifitsofresource.blogspot.com Reynolds, M. C. (n.d.). A Framework for Considering Some Issues in Special Education. mn.gov. Retrieved December 3, 2013, from http://mn.gov/web/prod/static/mnddc/live/past/pdf/60s/62/62-FCS-MCR.pdf The Benefits of an Inclusion Classroom. (2008, November 4). School Psychologist Files. Retrieved December 3, 2013, from http://www.schoolpsychologistfiles.com/2008/11/the-benefits-of-an-inclusion-classroom.html What is Asperger's Syndrome? Symptoms, tests, Causes, Treatments. (n.d.). WebMD. Retrieved December 3, 2013, from http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/mental-health-aspergers-syndrome
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.
Various advocates have made changes towards Special Education over the past hundred years. These changes have made substantial improvements in Special Education, but could also be seen as challenges. As a preschool teacher in an inclusive classroom, I have personally seen the improvements and setbacks these changes have made for my students with disabilities and their families. In this essay, I will be discussing specifically the changes made in Early Childhood Special Education. There are three changes that I will discuss; changes made to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Least Restrictive Environments (LRE) in an early childhood setting, and Early Intervention Programs (EIP).
The research has repeatedly shown that inclusion models are most beneficial to students with disabilities, including students with severe disabilities. The districts in which the students in the teacher education students have been placed in have a problem with incorporating inclusive education for their students. Students are isolated within self-contained classrooms, and consequently, they are missing out on vital academic, social, and functional skills.
Stainbeck, S. & Stainbeck, W. (1997) Inclusion a guide for educators. Baltimore, MD, Paulh Brookes Publishing Co.
What do we do with children with disabilities in the public school? Do we include them in the general education class with the “regular” learning population or do we separate them to learn in a special environment more suited to their needs? The problem is many people have argued what is most effective, full inclusion where students with all ranges of disabilities are included in regular education classes for the entire day, or partial inclusion where children spend part of their day in a regular education setting and the rest of the day in a special education or resource class for the opportunity to work in a smaller group setting on specific needs. The need for care for children with identified disabilities both physical and learning continues to grow and the controversy continues.
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.
...d on teachers and school leaders. The central factor in deciding whether or not inclusion should be practiced should be the students. Research has shown when practiced correctly, inclusion increases students’ test scores and achievement levels. The inclusion model is considered the “Least Restrictive Environment” for students. As specified by IDEA 1975, special education students have the right to be educated in the least restrictive environment with a classroom of peers. Co-teaching, a method used when practicing inclusion, has shown proven effectiveness on both special education students and normal functioning students. Finally, inclusion builds positive relationships and helps students become more accepting of diversity. In conclusion, students with special needs have a right to be included in the general education classroom, and educated with their peers.
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.
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 of all students in classrooms has been an ongoing issue for the past twenty-five years (Noll, 2013). The controversy is should special education students be placed in an inclusion setting or should they be placed in a special education classroom? If the answer is yes to all special education students being placed in inclusion, then how should the inclusion model look? Every students is to receive a free an appropriate education. According to the Individual Education Act (IDEA), all students should be placed in the Least Restrictive Learning Environment (Noll, 2013).
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.
Many agree that inclusion can be a positive experience for special education students, general education students and educators. Inclusive classrooms provide a diverse, stimulating environment for special education students. Vaughn and Klingner, 1995 found that special education students believe that inclusive classrooms provide them with more of an opportunity to make friends (Turnbull et al., 2004, p.70). Special education students who are included in regular education classrooms become part of a much larger learning community and they are able develop more of a positive self view.
As more schools recognize the advantages of teaching special needs students in the “least restrictive environment,” the procedure of “inclusion” is becoming the preferred method to help these students reach their educational best. But that has not always been the school of ...