Inclusion- For or Against

1. Have you had experiences in inclusive classes? Yep. 2. What is your philosophy of inclusion? I happen to believe in inclusion, with a few qualifiers. The teachers involved MUST recieve training; its not fair to them, the inclusion students or the class as a whole, when designated students are “thrown” into a class. Plus, there is supposed to be a CONTINUUM of services available. To arbitrarily put a child in a classroom defeats the purpose of both offering a continuum AND and the concept of an IEP. 3. What do you think is the future of special education? Technology 4.What do you think are the reasons for the emphasis on including kids with special needs in regular classrooms? Money money money. Oh, and the occasional time where inclusion would truly benefit the child. 5. What are the attitudes of parents toward inclusion? Mixed. Some spec ed parents are worried about their child being included and maybe not getting a proper level of service (lack of spec ed resources, focus on reg ed students); others are excited and thrilled to have their child exposed to a more normalized curriculum and a wider variety of people. For the reg ed students, some parents are worried their child will not receive a proper level of service (focus on spec ed kids, lack of attention on academics) and others are thrilled to have their child exposed to people of differing abilities. Funny that. The attitudes are similar from both sides…. 6. What are the atttitudes of nondisabled students toward their peers with disabilities? Mixed. Some are obviously frightened, others bowl each other over trying to befriend the designated students. 7. What are the obvious advantages /disadvantages of inclusion? Advantages? social, improved academics, improved behavior. Disadvantages? for the severely handicapped, lack of appropriate activities (ie: ADLs like feeding might be more needed then learning algebra) 8. Could you share some of your experiences that prove that inclusion can or cannot work? ask me again in a few weeks LOL im overloaded atm and have lots of stories 9. What are the critical dimensions of an inclusive classroom? 10. Do you think that children with any type of disability should be included? Why? As long as a child can gain benefit from a regular ed classroom without losing, or getting a chance to learn basic life skills, then they should be included. 11. How differently would you like to see inclusion implemented? Training for staff should be MANDATORY. 12. What are your concerns about inclusion? see above 13. Do students with special needs feel comfortable in an inclusive classroom? Some do, some don’t. It all depends on the child, the other students and the staff’s level of comfort. 14. Some say that inclusion is unrealistic and doesn’t work. What do you say? Nothing is ever that black and white.and Finally,15. What are the outcomes of inclusion? Hopefully a more rounded education for the spec ed student, and an appreciation and tolerance for others from the reg ed students.

1. Have you had experiences in inclusive classes? Yep. 2. What is your philosophy of inclusion? I happen to believe in inclusion, with a few qualifiers. The teachers involved MUST recieve training; its not fair to them, the inclusion students or the class as a whole, when designated students are “thrown” into a class. Plus, there is supposed to be a CONTINUUM of services available. To arbitrarily put a child in a classroom defeats the purpose of both offering a continuum AND and the concept of an IEP. 3. What do you think is the future of special education? Technology 4.What do you think are the reasons for the emphasis on including kids with special needs in regular classrooms? Money money money. Oh, and the occasional time where inclusion would truly benefit the child. 5. What are the attitudes of parents toward inclusion? Mixed. Some spec ed parents are worried about their child being included and maybe not getting a proper level of service (lack of spec ed resources, focus on reg ed students); others are excited and thrilled to have their child exposed to a more normalized curriculum and a wider variety of people. For the reg ed students, some parents are worried their child will not receive a proper level of service (focus on spec ed kids, lack of attention on academics) and others are thrilled to have their child exposed to people of differing abilities. Funny that. The attitudes are similar from both sides…. 6. What are the atttitudes of nondisabled students toward their peers with disabilities? Mixed. Some are obviously frightened, others bowl each other over trying to befriend the designated students. 7. What are the obvious advantages /disadvantages of inclusion? Advantages? social, improved academics, improved behavior. Disadvantages? for the severely handicapped, lack of appropriate activities (ie: ADLs like feeding might be more needed then learning algebra) 8. Could you share some of your experiences that prove that inclusion can or cannot work? ask me again in a few weeks LOL im overloaded atm and have lots of stories 9. What are the critical dimensions of an inclusive classroom? 10. Do you think that children with any type of disability should be included? Why? As long as a child can gain benefit from a regular ed classroom without losing, or getting a chance to learn basic life skills, then they should be included. 11. How differently would you like to see inclusion implemented? Training for staff should be MANDATORY. 12. What are your concerns about inclusion? see above 13. Do students with special needs feel comfortable in an inclusive classroom? Some do, some don’t. It all depends on the child, the other students and the staff’s level of comfort. 14. Some say that inclusion is unrealistic and doesn’t work. What do you say? Nothing is ever that black and white.and Finally,15. What are the outcomes of inclusion? Hopefully a more rounded education for the spec ed student, and an appreciation and tolerance for others from the reg ed students.