Full inclusion is a lofty goal. The Pro and Cons of Disability Inclusion in School: Inclusion vs. the Self Contained Classroom. With inclusion, the child is fully included in the general education class for the entire day. The disadvantages of inclusion classrooms impact minority students the most. Inclusion can boost the math scores of students with learning or emotional disabilities without placing an academic drag on other kids, but this benefit occurs for those who are in the same grade – not necessarily in the same classroom. Learning a language can be a difficult process. Inclusion - Pros and Cons Essay by stuart34567 , College, Undergraduate , A+ , April 2006 download word file , 3 pages download word file , 3 pages 5.0 1 votes Often they are not just limited to looking after him. With a private therapist accompanying him at all times. But very few primary schools allow such an aide, unless provided by them. He discovered that students who came from a Hispanic or African-American household in low-income schools had profound struggles with their reading under this structure. What changes would need to be made to adopt a more inclusive approach for special education services? Most kids who struggle in the traditional school settings require more structure to their day, which is something that is not always possible. That means there is an increase in social initiation, more relationships that form, and better networks within the school and throughout the community with families to ensure everyone can learn to their full potential. But the percentage drops for kids in a special school (65.4% report difficulties). Then if it doesn’t work try another mainstream. To start at the beginning, what is inclusion all about? 1. What does inclusion actually mean? 4. Other factors that may lead parents to choosing a special needs classroom may be the need for more care for their child if they have very high needs across several areas. Some methods of communication are also necessary – not necessarily speaking, but pointing, and the use of PECS or other assisted communication would make life at preschool much easier. The methodology consisted in analyzing and comparing research findings on the benefits and costs of inclusion. Luckily he said that was the right attitude to have. They cite research that indicates students with disabilities have performed better on test scores, or at the very least no worse, when they stay in regular education classes. Interestingly, it breaks down very differently in different States. Whether the issues involve a learning disorder, a physical disability, or emotional and mental challenges, this tool is a way that helps everyone have access to more paths that can lead toward success. This doesn’t mean they had a profound or severe level of autism (for example). Partially it’s based on the child’s need for support. *The success of a full inclusion placement is dependent to a very large extent on the attitude and expertise of both the classroom teacher and the assistant assigned to the special education student. When school districts take the segregated approach for their special education students, then it creates a divide between the teachers with the “normal” kids and those with the “unique” ones. Proponents of full inclusion assume that the general education classroom can and will be able to accommodate all students with disabilities, even those with severe and multiple disabilities. Students can get lost in large classrooms, especially if they already struggle with learning challenges. “In looking at a nationally representative sample of students,” notes Education Week in a 2016 piece, “researchers have found that the young children who shared a classroom with pupils who have behavioral and emotional disabilities and more absences, lower reading scores, and lower math scores.” The research also notes that kids in kindergarten or first grade who were in an inclusion classroom were more likely to act out in class and have problems with their social skills. It is argued that the neurotypical children in a classroom benefit from having children with other needs/abilities present as well. Jason Fletcher, a professor of public affairs at the University of Wisconsin, looked at the spillover effects of an inclusion classroom on students without a disability. In important ways there is no final decision. Inclusion and Full Mainstreaming: Pros and Cons. But a huge 83.7% of students in a special class report difficulties so they may not solve any issues. This proposition, like many full inclusion programs, is not solely designed to save school budgets; moreover, all of the propositions for full inclusion have the backing of experts who assert that the best way to attain language fluency is through inclusion instructional methods. There are many good arguments for full inclusion of children with special needs in a mainstream classroom. Even if they have the facilities, many private schools refuse to enroll students with special needs beyond those deemed ‘high functioning’ because it may affect their placing in the state rankings. Students in an inclusion classroom meet their IEP goals better. While mainstream inclusion with 1:1 support may be the best solution, it is almost never actually available except in an often expensive private setting. No I don’t want to use legal arguments to force a school to take my child as I want him to be fully accepted, not viewed as a burden.). An inclusion classroom allows a student with a learning or physical disability to learn alongside their peers who do not face similar challenges. Inclusion classrooms increase staff collaboration. He’s only going to do a few hours at a time, a couple of days a week. It can refer to many other things but since I am looking at research and research is mostly around school, that is what I will mostly discuss. This is necessary because often children in a special ed setting will have more support needs than those in a mainstream setting and that may skew the results. The final decision isn’t about whether you go with mainstream, a special class, home schooling, or a special school. Special schools will often have speech therapists, OTs and other facilities on site. And of those in mainstream classes, it’s only 40%. To make this relevant to us Michael when last tested had a profound limitation in communication (this is not just limited to not being able to talk but includes receptive language). Certainly anyone that has Michael in their class would be very lucky as he is the sweetest and most wonderful boy in the world, in my totally objective opinion. The question I always ask is – is this the optimal use of this three hour block for him? Inclusion classrooms work when every student receives equal, individualized learning opportunities to further their education. However, no system is without its flaws. Full Inclusion is when all students--students with special needs and general. This process integrates the families into their community if they have a special education student in their home instead of separating them from it because their needs are met by greater resources being available for anyone. A special education teacher works with the special needs children in the classroom and brings all necessary resources to the general classroom. In recent years, the issue of inclusive education has been placed on the forefront of nearly all scholastic circles in the United States. Most of the time he can’t sit still for three seconds unless working for a reinforcer. The Cons of Inclusion Classrooms 1. It can be meaningless to compare two children for example with ‘severe’ autism unless you know many other things about them as well. Michael doesn’t imitate them but he is very interested in what they do so he is likely ready. Co-teaching environments can be beneficial to students in an inclusion classroom because it solves the problem of individualization. This structure encourages more parent participation. However availability and personal preference also plays a part. Sometimes inclusion works well with Michael. According to Kids Together, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit agency in the United States, there is not any research which shows that there are negative effects that occur when an inclusion classroom design is appropriate for the situation, school, and community. The reality of modern-day funding for school districts is that if you place all kids into the same classroom settings, then the resources dedicated to “special education” go somewhere else. By doing so, students get to interact with their peers in ways that the special education classroom wouldn’t do. I have tried special education settings and have not found one that was a good match for him. They assume that such students can obtain educational and social benefits from that placement. Inclusion is defined as… “ Inclusive education means that all students in a school… become part of the school community.” Stacey Campbell is a general education kindergarten teacher in Washington, D.C. Education Week spoke to her in 2016 about the pros and cons of inclusion classrooms and her feedback was straightforward. There are also arguments against full mainstreaming of all children. I am now a qualified ABA therapist and full time autism researcher. Toilet training while not absolutely necessary would also be preferred by that stage. Someone trained in his learning style and someone that knows him well would be of immense benefit. His level of autism was diagnosed as moderate to severe (closer to moderate). The philosophical argument around inclusion is that children should not be ‘segregated’ by disability. Inclusion is another term for "mainstreaming," or merging special education with regular education classes. Cons: *A special day class placement is likely to be more expensive than a full inclusion placement. It creates the idea of a disability when none may exist. Cons of Inclusion Education 1. I found a really informative website that included the background on inclusion classes, the pros and cons of the issue, educational support, and concerns about inclusion. The pros and cons of an inclusion classroom suggest that this tool is useful in some situations, but it depends on the school environment, family involvement, and other unique factors which can only receive evaluation at the local level. to children with educationally-handicapping disabilities. The advantage of inclusive education is multi-layered, but it also has its inherent disadvantages. This advantage occurs because there is better access to the general curriculum and the presence of role models that can help kids to intuitively see and practice new social and behavioral skills. Any PROS employee is welcome to participate in PRIDE@PROS events – the only letter they need to identify with is the letter A for Ally. “A lot of times the specialists who come in are only worried about that one child, but as a general education teacher, I need to worry about that child and every other student,” she said. Many schools push parents to put their children into a special unit without even meeting the child for this very reason. No amount of studies or philosophy can answer those questions for you. Instead of having special education, you have inclusive education. That means there must be a focus on accommodation that works for everyone. It is intended to promote the greater good. That means teachers must move more slowly through the information to ensure that every student can stay caught up with the curriculum. But if the prerequisite skills aren’t there, often it doesn’t. Some physical disabilities require a special classroom configuration. There are many arguments about inclusion and children on the spectrum. Welcome! It discourages collaboration within the administrative body of the school because staff members must focus on their specialized assignments. 45% have learning difficulties, 27% had communication difficulties and 27% had difficulty fitting in socially. The Pros And Cons Of Full Inclusion of Disabled Students, Part II. If you place a bunch of students who all have challenging IEPs in the same room, then it becomes a challenge for teachers and support staff to ensure that the goals of that plan are met consistently. Federal legislation and regulations on inclusion were examined, analyzed, and discussed. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about inclusion lately. BY JANNA ABO-GEORGE & TIFFANY RABNER THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY EDUC - 246 SPRING 2010 Inclusion: Support For & Against Click on the “Speaker” on each slide for audio commentary 2. They must receive a slow introduction to the changes about to occur so that they can be ready to meet the next challenges. In reality often the choice isn’t between a special education classroom tailored to their needs vs mainstream. Read More. Is he learning as many valuable things here as he would in a different setting? The following is what real teachers have listed as the pros and cons of mainstreaming kids with autism. That means there will be times when some children are unable to mentally access the curriculum a teacher offers because they are forced into a cookie-cutter teaching approach. In this paper I am going to be talking about the pros and cons of inclusion for Special Education children. Their communication to the teachers, support staff, and administrators allows for an educational plan to develop that can further the learning opportunities for each child. Research which dates back as far as 1994 suggests that students with special needs who receive their education in regular classes do better socially and academically than comparable students who receive non-inclusive settings. Social Advantages:Students get to receive their education with their non-disabled peers who are the same age as them. The Pros And Cons Of Full Inclusion of Disabled Students There are many advantages of inclusion of disabled students for normal children of the classroom. What does the research really say about it? When parents and school districts debate the “nature or severity” of a students disability it is usually concerning a matter of full inclusion of that student in a general education setting. When this situation is present in the classroom or school district, then the only outcome which works is a specialized spot where their current educational needs can receive the attention it deserves. For interaction I take him to as many playgrounds/swimming pools/settings with peers as I can so he can practise social skills there in an environment that he is comfortable in and that makes no other demands. 5. If something seems too difficult to manage, then a disruption of the class can settle the situation. What does it look like? Students with special needs can often find themselves in a minor classroom role. This last year I have often considered putting Michael into preschool or playgroup. But it can be hard to really control for things like that because of how diverse the needs can be. Very few schools allow private therapists (believe me I’ve tried) and teachers aides can also be stretched quite thin. some very basic colouring/drawing skills and early play skills. My assumption is always to go to the least restrictive environment where meaningful learning still happens. They may include better screening of students, the use of remedial or reading recovery courses, and better tutoring systems. Kids will usually perform up to the standards and goals that you set for them. If there is no collaboration available in the curriculum, then most of the benefits disappear. The remaining term needing definition is full inclusion. perhaps the ability to engage in a bit of group play. So far my solution has been to do a lot of one on one work with him at home to get him ready. My paediatrician says a child is ready when they start to imitate their peers (even if not immediately) and try to engage with them. That is approximately 8% (one in twelve) of the student population. And it was observed in these schools, that just had to ‘make do’, that the long term measurable results for children with special needs were better than in schools that did make special provisions. Luckily that is much more of an option with preschool than with primary school. Because an inclusion classroom brings everyone together, there is a significant boost in collaboration because everyone can work toward the same goals for their students instead of different ones. I'm a former tax lawyer who was accidentally turned into a useful person when my son was diagnosed with moderate-severe autism. If there are multiple interruptions every day, then their learning processes are slowed despite the emphasis on diversity within the school environment. 3. When they cause a disruption, then it makes it more difficult for the other students to stay focused on the curriculum. The purpose of this paper was to review, analyze, and critique the pros and cons, the advantages and disadvantages, of inclusion. The author outlines the pros and cons of each side of the debate. Is it the same as full inclusion or mainstreaming? They do and should change with your child as they grow. I remember the last time a paediatrician asked me what my plan was for my son’s primary school I said that I’ve changed my mind three times about that since breakfast. And that is still my plan. When I decide on the level of ‘inclusion’ necessary for my son I always consider his skill level, the demands that will be placed, and what kinds of supports I can put in to help him. Be able to respond to group directions and have enough receptive language that he would be able to understand at least half of what is going on in the class. It provides a general education to everyone regardless of who they are, if there is an IEP in place, or there are specific challenges that must be addressed as an accommodation. You may have a fantastic public school that is happy to have your little one and provides all necessary supports. Partially it’s our day-to-day experience. Without individualization, an inclusion classroom will struggle to find success. It suggests that the only people who can or should be your friend are those who look, act, and think just like you do. Michael is nowhere near reaching most of these goals without loads of support. What is wrong with special education the way it is now? Your decisions will depend on the experiences you have already had. Mainstreaming consists in the practice of educating students with special needs in regular, general classrooms during specific time periods based on their skills. The Choice of Educational Settings: The Pros and Cons of Mainstreaming Children With Intellectual Disabilities.