What can we do to promote the social integration of students with exceptional learning needs?

I have viewed the acceptance of Special Education in 2 different aspects. Growing up, majority of the African continent saw anyone with a physical and or mental impairment as a curse, a punishment to that couple or family. It was improper to mention the relative with the special need in fear of how others would react. For example, if a family with a member that has a physical or mental impairment own a butchery, it is highly unlikely that, that family would profit from their meat if anyone knew of their family member. Why? They would perceive it as a form of witchcraft and that it is a possibility that they or others would develop an impairment from eating the meat from the butchery. Crazy right? But over time, society in Africa has come to a realization for the need to help individuals with special needs, and that they need care and comfort like anyone else. With special educators in need, some countries in Africa have been more accepting of any individuals with special needs and try to educate themselves and accommodate those in need.

Although those misconceptions are still there, that has never been my or my family’s view, being raised in America has fundamentally taught me to accept and include anyone in everything. Today, society has been heavily pushed to have more educational and social programs for students with special needs, such as day programs, camps, aides and positive behavior therapy sessions. Over the years, parents have become more vocal about their children’s education and often push for inclusion even though the schools didn’t seem to accommodate their child. According to Education for All; “During the 1990’s parents’ desire for their child’s social acceptance and learning that they could use to navigate in the real world as adults fueled their interest in and pursuit of inclusive education”.(pg. 52)

I believe in order to promote the acceptance and social integration of children with disabilities is to continue advocating for the special needs community and developing educational and social programs. Acts like No Child Left Behind are great changes that have paved the way for so many more laws and regulations pertaining to students with special needs. For example, Camp Sunshine of Aurora is a great program of how to integrate disabled and non-disabled children within the classroom and the community. This camp focuses on helping autistic children create social relationships with other children in their same age and behave appropriately in classroom and community settings. Within the camp,a child with Autism is paired up with a peer their age and that peer is to appropriately display social behavior while at the movies, the park, while ordering in a restaurant or at a museum. As far as classroom etiquette, peers display appropriate turn taking in speaking, appropriate questions and staying focused and  on topic.

Programs like Camp Sunshine have made a great impact in the lives of all the children involved, it’s an educational aspect for peers who didn't know much about Autism and a social aspect for the children with Autism because they make meaningful friendships and learn to interact with others. All these skills they gain from camp will help them during the regular school year as they navigate through a new school, at a community pool or helping buy groceries at the local supermarket.
Just like Jason McElwain, he started out as a team manager, not expecting anything from the coach or any of the players. Over the course of his years in high school, he created a bond with the players but it wasn’t until the coach gave him an opportunity to be included in the game.  Jason became an inspiration to other kids with Autism and that encouraged them to want to excel at anything despite their disability. The coach is a prime example of how the promotion of integration will occur. More and more individuals are taking the time to educate themselves about special education and society is open to include students in regular classrooms to not limit their ability to grow and learn at the same pace as others.