What are the Pros and Cons of Inclusion? The first benefit of inclusion is that it resulted in greater communication skills, greater social competence, and greater developmental skills for special education students who have been part of inclusive settings (Bennet, Deluca, & Bruns, 1997). The second benefit of inclusion is that disabled students make more friends in general education settings and interact with their student peers at much higher level (Fryxell & Kennedy, 1995). The third benefit is that the cost of inclusion is less over time than teaching the special education students in special education classes alone (Savich, 2008). According to Savich citation, the benefits of inclusion far outweigh the cost. In further support of this finding a major benefit for the societal integration of disable students is that are less segregated and isolated from the general students population. This was agreeable with the goals and objectives of IDEA and No Child Left Behind Act. NCLB was enacted to ensure that all children have a fair, equal and significant opportunity to obtain high quality education. The problem arises, however, when children with disabilities have to take the same test as students without disabilities. Savich stated that critics argue that this goal is unrealistic, and unfair. Students with disabilities cannot do well on these standardized tests. The results will be lowering of their self esteem, and the greater chance is they will give up
Inclusive practice is a process of identifying, understanding and breaking down barriers to participation and belonging. Inclusion is about ensuring that children and young people, whatever their background or situation, are able to participate fully in all aspects of the life of the school. Inclusive practices will ensure that everyone feels valued and has a sense of belonging. Inclusion is not about viewing everyone as the same or providing the same work, but about providing the same opportunities and access to a
Another upside of Inclusion would be the development of friendships. If disabled children were in separated classroom, or schools, they would not have a wide variety of peers to bond with. In inclusive classrooms, children with disabilities can learn from children without disabilities, or vice versa. They will have more opportunities to open up and accept each other and learn to appreciate diversity. With these benefits, there are also downfalls. Inclusion can cause, not only for the non-disabled children to fail, but also for the disabled. For instance, some students who are disabled need extra help, but “…it can be difficult for a teacher to provide these accommodations without distracting the rest of the students” (Jessica Cook). Students with special needs will need extra attention, and while the teacher is helping the special needs student, he will be neglecting the other non-special needs students that also need help. Even the other way around, the teacher would help the non-special needs students, and would start neglecting the special needs students. This could possibly cause students to slowly, or maybe even drastically, start failing. Another example would be that regular teachers are not as “…fully trained as a special education teacher when it comes to providing for the educational, behavioral and physical needs of students with special needs” (Jessica Cook). Some people may say that they can always pair a regular teacher with another
The pros and cons of the inclusion of special education students in the public school system.
Inclusion is a program that has been in effect for many years, yet has not become standard procedure in all public schools. The program ?inclusion as the name implies, means all students with disabilities, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability and need for special services, receive their total education within the regular education classroom? (Haller 167). Inclusion is an involved program that has taken time to establish in the most beneficial manner, however the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has helped in the formation of the program (Haller 54). ?The Education of all Handicapped children Act mandated that all school-age children with disabilities receive a free appropriate education in the least restrictive environment? (Haller 54). This means that the education program would cease to pull children out of the classroom for resource instruction. The idea of the
Inclusion is beneficial for all students in a general education classroom, not just the students with disabilities. Inclusion teaches all students understanding, compassion, respect, and acceptance of others. Students with disabilities are able to learn from peers and teachers alike. Inclusion also boosts a student’s confidence because they feel accepted within the classroom, the school, and the community. Inclusion leads to more success in achieving the goals set forth in the IEP. The Common Core State Standards go hand in hand with inclusion because they address the knowledge and skills
Inclusion is the act of having students with disabilities and abled body students in the same classroom. In concept this has many benefits not only for the students but it also saves time and money for the school, however in practice I do not think inclusion works the way it was hoped to. Inclusion in theory will put light strain on the classroom because of safe guards such as helper teachers are in place to help out. In my experience these teachers are in the way most of the time when students are trying to learn, and students feel cheated when the special needs students are handed a supplemented test making the students feel bad. Lastly that the pros of inclusion in the classroom are set in perfect conditions with good teachers on both sides special education and general education, however most of the time that is not the case.
After viewing the videos of Samantha’s preschool inclusion and Peter’s classroom inclusion, I found that there are a few benefits of inclusion for children with special needs and their families. Inclusion classrooms can be very beneficial for children with special needs because it gives them a chance to be around typical developing peers to socialize with and learn from as well. In the video of Samantha’s situation, the typical developing children really enjoyed Samantha because despite her unique challenges, they were still able to play with her and they considered her to be a good friend. Another way inclusion classrooms are beneficial for special needs children is that, teachers of inclusion classrooms work closely with the family and team to develop the appropriate adaptations for children with special needs. When children with special
Inclusion can be defined as the act of being present at regular education classes with the support and services needed to successfully achieve educational goals. Inclusion in the scholastic environment benefits both the disabled student and the non-disabled student in obtaining better life skills. By including all students as much as possible in general or regular education classes all students can learn to work cooperatively, learn to work with different kinds of people, and learn how to help people in tasks. “As Stainback, Stainback, East, and Sapon-Shevin (1994) have noted, ‘...the goal of inclusion in schools is to create a world in which all people are knowledgeable about and supportive of all other
Students with special needs need deserve the same education general education students are presented with. The philosophy of “ Disability Inclusion” concentrates on creating a safe, loving, and effective learning environment for students who suffer from physical, learning, and behavioral disabilities. When a student with disabilities is placed in the same environment as a non-disabled student, the results show wonderful improvement. When we are able to discover the strength of the student we are able to see just how much the student can improve in an inclusion classroom. Disability Inclusion not only sets a new beginning for an equal education of special education students, but it allows for more interaction with the child, and a more hands-on assessment.
The idea of children with disabilities, whether they be mild or severe has been a very controversial and misunderstood topic. In the past inclusion has brought about huge changes for not only the students, but also the parents and families of these children, and staff at schools. Teachers and education professionals were the first to really feel the wrath and intimidation of this dramatic shift in education. There were several different factors that were coming about that made it very difficult for schools and teachers, the unorganized mandates were strict and didn’t allow much time for change. “President Gerald Ford signed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) into law in 1975. Since the original passage of the EAHCA, the law has been amended four times and renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)” (Conroy, Yell, Katsiyannis, & Collins, 2010, para.1).
In this video Dr. Patrick Schwarz a professor at National-Louis University in Chicago speaks about the benefits of inclusive education. He supports his speech by giving the references of many researches, for example, George and Julie Causton-Theoharis, Jennifer York, and Smokey Daniels Art Hyde, Steven Zemelman. These researchers found that with the inclusive education, special needs students have a better approach with their IEPs (Individual Education Plan), have progressed in academic areas, less behavior issues, and greater improvement in communication skills with their peers. The George and Julie research also found exceptional standardized test score for both students with disabilities and typical peers. Dr. Schwarz believes that the
Many children have had learning disabilities for many years. Each year more and more of these children are being helped. Schools are working to improve their special education programs and to have all kinds of students work together in the same classroom. The practice of inclusion was started because educators felt that special needs students would achieve more in traditional classrooms with non-learning disabled students than they would in special education classes. However, research findings suggest that there really is no difference in academic achievement levels for special needs students when they are placed in regular classrooms.
This controversy may stem from the fact that inclusion is expensive and experts disagree about how much time disabled students should spend in regular classrooms (Cambanis, 2001). Although this topic is controversial, it cannot be ignored. Inclusion will, at some point, affect 1% of all children born each year, who will have disabilities and the families and educators they will come in contact with (Stainback, 1985).
It is imperative that inclusion techniques be implemented in the classroom. Studies and research show that implementing inclusion techniques in the classroom have immense positive impacts on all students. As a result of these findings there is a rise in legislation being passed that fosters inclusion on a broader scale. Furthermore, it is necessary to apply inclusion techniques from a young age in order to ensure the greatest success. In my opinion the application of inclusion technique’s in classrooms is becoming exceedingly important to the success of students with disabilities.
Over the past twenty years, there has been a strong movement within schools around the United States to integrate students with disabilities in to general education classrooms. Schools have been making more efforts to increase educational opportunities for students with disabilities, and while there are many benefits to inclusion, there are also many challenges. Inclusion of special education students in a regular education classroom continues to be the center of debate amongst administrators and teachers. Everyone has their own ideas and attitudes towards inclusion, and research studies have revealed that there are many things that contribute to those positive or negative attitudes.