1. Inclusion
By Katie Koeslin

2. “Inclusion is consistent with multicultural educations, and [with] a world in which many more people have opportunities to know, play, and work with one another.”
Mara Sapon-Shevin

3. The concept of inclusion takes the principle of least restrictive environment one step further. It states that the general education classroom is an appropriate learning environment for all (or most) children, and that special education services can often be delivered more efficiently and effectively in that environment.

4. Today more than 95% of students with physical, emotional, learning, cognitive, visual, and hearing disabilities receive some or all of their education in the general education classroom.

5. Levels of Inclusion….

6. Mainstreaming
The selective placement of special education students in one or more “regular” education classes where the student must earn the opportunity to be placed there
Example: Joining a general education classroom for art, music or physical education

7. Inclusion
Bringing the support services to the child in the general education classroom rather than the child to the services in a separate room
Example: Small groups for reading and math, with students disabled and
non-disabled

8. Full Inclusion
All children, regardless of their handicapping condition or the severity of their disability will be in a regular education classroom full time.
Example: A child with autism being in a general education classroom all day (with support from a paraprofessional)

9. “Children with special needs are our gift
“Children with special needs are our gift. They make us think outside the box and when we do, we realize these same strategies work with many other children in the classroom.” -Dayle Timmons

10. Benefits of Inclusion for…

11. The child with Special Needs
Gives them a sense of belonging and does not single them out
Provides a diverse environment that is stimulating and allows them to grow and learn
Enables them to develop friendships with their non-disabled peers

12. Boosts their self-respect
and self-esteem
Provides positive peer-models so typically behavior problems will lessen
Provides opportunities to be educated with same-age peers and to be exposed to the age-appropriate general curriculum

13. The General Education Student
Provides opportunities to experience diverse students in a small classroom setting
Develops an appreciation that everyone has unique characteristics and different abilities

14. Increases sensitivity towards
other’s limitations
Promotes respect for others different from themselves
Develops feelings of empowerment and the ability to make a difference
Increases abilities to help and teach all classmates
Develops empathetic skills

15. Creates opportunities to put themselves in another child’s shoes
Allows those who do not qualify for special education to the receive extra assistance without the label

16. The Teachers
Helps teachers to recognize that all students have strengths
Creates an awareness of the importance of direct individualized instruction
Increases ways of creatively addressing challenges

17. Teaches collaborative problem solving skills
Develops teamwork skills
Special education teachers feel more a part of the school faculty

18. Society Promotes the civil rights of all individuals
Supports the social value of equality
Teaches socialization and collaborative skills
Builds supportiveness and interdependence
Provides children with a miniature model of the democratic process

19. When Inclusion Will Not Work:
Settling for the child’s physical presence in the classroom instead of actual acceptance
Insisting on inclusion at all cost (monetary or emotional)
Giving priority to the inclusive education model over the individual needs of all the children

20. Providing the staff with little or no training
Not including the paraprofessional in meetings concerning the child
Not teaching the child’s peers about the nature of different disabilities and how to interact with those who have a disability

21. The Drawbacks of Inclusion
It costs more than having separate special education classes because the students require extra support
The general education classroom size has to be reduced in order to accommodate the needs of the child with the disability such as their physical and/or instructional needs
The cost of the materials, adaptive equipment, technology, and the training for the staff is expensive

22. To Make Inclusion Work
General education teachers need the proper training in how to teach children with special needs
The child’s IEP goals must be able to be met within the classroom setting
All children regardless of their differences or abilities have to be valued as a human being and have a sense of belonging

23. The general education students must be taught about others who have disabilities and how to interact with them
Must have regular meetings, including everyone who works with the child
Communication between the general education teacher and the special education teacher

24. Inclusion Can Be Done
The general education teacher and the special education teacher can work together to provide an environment that benefits all students with learning strategies and opportunities to work and play with others that have different strengths and weaknesses from themselves

25. “All kids are gifted; some just open their packages earlier than others.”
-Michael Carr

26. The Final Word

27. Full inclusion benefits the whole class when the special education student only has a mild disability because the student has good role models and the students who are not labeled EC get the benefits of the extra assistance
When the student is severely disabled mainstreaming is the best for everyone because all the students have time to interact with their peers, but everyone is receiving the appropriate education