Blog Post #3) Inclusion/ A Contemporary Challenge. What is your perspective? Ronghi

Some arguments for inclusion are that it recognizes diversity and embraces it. For example, students can see that a student with cerebral palsy looks different but is still part of the classroom community. Students learn that he/she can be friends with students with disabilities and see they are just like them but require modifications/accommodations to succeed in a general education classroom. Inclusion teaches patience, compassion, and support for their peers. It also lets all children come together in learning and cooperation. Inclusion is real world meaning that people with disabilities are not separated from regular people. We co-exist; as a result, it is important that students with disabilities are together with regular education students so they learn to work together. In 1994, CEC made a policy statement on inclusion, saying that young adults with disabilities are entitled to FAPE that lead to an adult life characterized by satisfying relations with others, independent living, productive engagement in the community and participation in society at large. I believe being in a classroom among typical peers will help lead students with disabilities to a successful adult life among society. I believe students with disabilities should have access to general education classrooms and extracurricular programs. There are some circumstances in which some students with severe disabilities would not benefit from inclusion because developmentally they are not ready yet. They would benefit from a classroom that focuses on life skills. Some arguments against inclusion are that classroom teachers lack resources, training, and other supports to teach students with disabilities in the classroom. Also, students with disabilities are not getting “specialized attention and care” and regular education students are disrupted constantly. Some parents are worried that their children will be ridiculed by other students in the regular education classroom. I believe schools do inclusion differently as a result I think that is why there is mixed reviews on inclusion. Some schools have teachers with no training/background on inclusion as a result the classroom is not ran properly. I think these are some factors that contribute to fuel the “inclusion debate.”