Inclusion
Inclusion in education means that a child with a disability attends the same school they would attend if they did not have a disability (home school). It means receiving their education in a regular classroom with children who do not have disabilities, with any needed supports or services brought to them, in the classroom. Most importantly, it means that they are full members of the regular classroom, not just visitors who participate in some classes as is the case in the mainstreaming model.
The IDEA does not use the term Inclusion but requires placement in the Least Restrictive Envir
onment (LRE) while still receiving an appropriate education. The LRE is defined as to the maximum extent appropriate, kids with disabilities must be educated in the regular classroom with kids without disabilities WITH appropriate aids and supports, in the home school. The following web sites are useful in helping you understand more about Inclusion and how it is best implemented in our schools and in our communities.Inclusion,
University of Northern Iowa
This web site is designed
for general education teachers, special education
teachers, parents, and school staff to help provide
some answers about how inclusive education can be
accomplished. Resources for making accommodations are
included as well as links to other web sites and resource
lists for learning more about inclusive education. Visit
their web site or contact them at:
Dr. Sandra Alper,
Department Head:
Department of Special Education,
University of Northern Iowa,
Cedar Falls, IA 50614
Phone: 319/273-6061
E-mail: sandra.alper@uni.edu
Kids
Together Inc.
Kids Together is a non-profit site
founded by parents and organized by volunteers. It
provides information, resources, and links to other sites
primarily about Inclusion. The parents began Kids Together
to educate the community about Inclusion and to provide more
inclusive opportunities for their children. This site
provides excellent information on all aspects of Inclusion
and also has a calendar of events (to which you can add an
event) and a place where parents can donate, sell or
exchange toys and equipment). Visit their site for more
information or contact them at:
P.O. Box 574
Quakertown, PA 18951
Email: staff@kidstogether.org
This page has been visited
times