Social Integration 

How we promote the social integration of students with exceptional learning needs can depend on our role in the school setting.  As a nurse in the school setting I have the opportunity to spend time in the classroom with students and speaking to parents outside the classroom on a routine basis.  Some children with ELN have continuous medical needs.  Because of this, I speak to parents often.  Not only do parents share medical needs, they share thoughts and feelings that every parent has regarding their child making friends.  My background is pediatric nursing for a children’s hospital.  Family centered care has always been a focus for me as a nurse.  Pediatric nurses must consider the needs of the entire family unit in order to provide the best care.  Family centered care definitely is a must when a child with ELN enters school.  As Jimenez and Graf state in Education For All: Critical Issues in the Education of Children and Youth with Disabilities, “families are the stable and constant force in a young child’s life and therefore play a critical role in the educational process.”(pg.44). 

I have found that outward appearances of students with ELN can sometimes be off putting to students and parents of typical peers.  By demystifying some the outward appearances of students with ELN, barriers can be removed to promote social integration.  Finding common ground between students and families helps to not only promote social integration, but helps to form friendships, bonds and a support systems.  In my school district we have 6 elementary schools.  Children often go to school, kindergarten through grade 5, with the same group of children year after year.  I can sometimes take down some barriers of social integration, through education.  I try to educate students when children immediately enter school.  I want to address differences and similarities with the children in the classroom and their parents outside the classroom.  When we have a student with ELN that may “look” or “act” differently, I may do education on a special disability or chronic illness.  I first speak with the family and teacher of the student with ELN for permission to talk about how their child may look a little different than other children.  My goal is to educate the students and families so there is no fear or exclusion of the student with ELN.  I like for students to be aware of needs and feelings of each other.  For instance, we have a new kindergartener with a trach and is in also in a wheelchair.  I spoke to the class about his “special band” around his neck and his wheelchair and why he needs them.  We also go around the room and ask what makes each student happy.  When it was this particular students turn, he shared that he likes to play with friends.  Since he cannot speak, he points to the friends picture on his wheel chair tray.  This opens the dialog that he likes to play with friends, just like everyone else does, but he just can’t say it with words.  I try to take away the fear of how outward appearances may be different, but on the inside we all have feelings.  We also send home information to families in the backpack.  This information is for family dialog at home.  If parents have questions, they are welcome to contact me.