SCHOOL YEARS: What about inclusion? Will my child learn as much as in a special class?
Inclusion in a program of appropriate services requires public school systems to serve all students with disabilities, regardless of the type of disability or the level of its severity. Students with disabilities are entitled to special education and related services designed to meet their individual needs. Although inclusion is mandated, there are still some special classes and schools in operation. Some parents feel more secure with their child in a segregated environment, but research indicates that children learn more readily in a regular classroom. They learn from their interaction with children who do not have disabilities, and respond to the higher expectation from their teachers. On a personal level, I feel that learning in an integrated school program prepares children with disabilities to live in a normal, integrated environment as adults. This is the ultimate goal for our children.
