Inclusion classrooms strive to create a learning environment that is welcoming to people of all abilities and walks of life. This method has been shown to improve academic performance in students with disabilities, but does require extensive training and preparation for teachers, administrators, and peers.
Inclusion has been a topic of debate throughout the United States and globally for many years. While some see it as an ideal practice that ensures equitable education for all children, others believe that it puts too much pressure on the teachers and other staff involved in order to achieve this goal.
Special education inclusion is a form of instruction in which students with disabilities spend all or most of their time with other non-disabled peers. This is the opposite of special education exclusion, in which students with disabilities spend most or all of their time in special education classes.
Proponents of special education inclusion argue that it provides students with additional opportunities to practice basic skills such as reading and math, helps to improve social skills, and allows for more friendships between students with and without disabilities.
Those who oppose the idea of special education inclusion often do so because they say it does not allow for enough individualized attention for students with disabilities, as well as because it can make it harder for other students to learn what they need to know.
Although there are many proponents and opponents on both sides of the argument about special education inclusion, some federal laws have been put into place to ensure that students who have disabilities are included in regular classrooms as much as possible.
Inclusion is “a model of service delivery in which students with disabilities are educated in regular classrooms, to the maximum extent possible, alongside nondisabled peers” (Hallahan & Kauffman, 2002). The inclusion classroom is a general education class with a full-time teacher and additional support provided by a paraprofessional or special education teacher. Students must have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to be served in an inclusion classroom.
Special education, or special needs education, is a comprehensive and systematic approach to the education of children with learning difficulties or disabilities. Special education is tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and ensure that all children have access to meaningful learning experiences.
Inclusion has many benefits. For one thing, being included in the same classroom as their peers allows students with disabilities to be more exposed to common learning experiences. It also helps them develop social skills and friendships that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to form. Inclusion also benefits teachers by giving them access to more resources and a better understanding of how each child learns best.
However, there are some concerns about inclusion as well. Some teachers worry that their classes will become too large or that they won’t be able to meet the needs of all the different students. Others feel like it might not be fair to other students if their class time is taken up by helping one student who needs more support than others do. There are also some studies that show that students with disabilities benefit from having additional support outside of their classrooms or separate instruction altogether.
Special education is designed to ensure that a child who has a disability has access to an appropriate education. A specialized program may be needed in order for the child to benefit from schooling. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that ensures special education services are provided to children with disabilities throughout the United States. Each state must follow IDEA guidelines, but they also have some flexibility in how they implement it.
Because each child is unique, special education programs must be tailored to reflect the individual needs of the student. Special education may include instruction in a regular classroom or at home, or it could involve instruction in a separate school setting.