Disabled children would be teased and bullied in mainstream schools. Why subject them to harsh treatment?
Recent research by Norwich and Kelly (2004) has shown that young pupils with statements of special educational needs for moderate learning difficulties were bullied as much in mainstream schools as they were in special schools. The researchers also found that pupils attending special schools experienced far more bullying by children of mainstream schools and by peers and outsiders in their neighbourhood. The abstract of Norwich and Kelly’s article, Pupils’ views on inclusion: moderate learning difficulties and bullying in mainstream and special schools is available free (there may be a charge for the full-text). Many schools that have included disabled pupils have found that children are far more accommodating than anticipated; it is usually adults who make stereotypical assumptions. In any case, a school which fosters inclusive values would be far less likely to see any mistreatment of any student.
