The word that jumped to my attention in your title was normalization. In all my studies of students with special needs when I read that word so many thoughts begin to gather. When reading your research, I identified with the thoughts you discussed about what things would be considered normal. The gauge to which each of us defines that thought, concept, and or word is what I continue to question. In my thoughts I continue to come to the same hard truth that unfortunately students with disabilities have issue that a normal (loosely defined) student does not, and that is not normal. I was interested to read that the thought process changed and that the name tried to as well. I just don't think that stepping away after the fact makes people change their view of the idea.
I enjoyed reading all the pros and cons of both Normalization and Inclusion. The ideas and concepts that both can be beneficial rings true for my professionally. I have seen instances of both being highly successful and both failing terribly. I think trying to put students, ideas, concepts, and programs into nice tight little boxes may be part of the problem. What is fair is not always equal and what has worked for one student may not work for anyone else. The factors for each student like parent involvement, medical care, living conditions, school setting, teachers, ect. differ so greatly that we can not put a blanket over students and think that just because things were successful in the past that they will continue to be successful now. The continued search for what will work best for children is a long road and I feel as though we are going to continue in the race for years to come, and may never actually "win" if we continue to try to find a one cure fits all concept.
No comments:
Post a Comment