Seeking support before a program is put into place is crucial, as it is this network of support that will serve to assist in solving the problems that will
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inevitably arise.
The second common roadblock is inadequate planning and scheduling for inclusion. Planning and scheduling should not only occur at the local level, but at the district level as well (Worrell 53). Often, the entire organizational structure of a district needs to be examined and revamped for an inclusion program to succeed (Stainback 144). Making certain that there is not an "overload" of special education students within one general education classroom takes much planning and effort on the part of teachers and counselors. Planning also includes making certain that special education students are provided with all appropriate services that they would have received had they not been placed in the inclusion classroom setting (Worrell 53). This not only includes accommodations and modifications within the classroom, but speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or other related services as well. During the planning process, school districts should define what they mean by inclusion, as which and how practices are implemented varies greatly from one setting to another. Having a clear idea of where an inclusion program is headed will provide a greater chance for success (Worrell 43). In addition, planning should take place long before the program is to be implemented, not concurrently or after implementation has occurred, which has become commonplace in districts throughout the country.
A third roadblock is lack of training about inclusion for faculty and staff. When a district values inclusion, it will provide professional development for faculty targeting how to modify curricula and adapt techniques in order to reach all students. Students with special needs will be educated in the general education classroom, but the educators will be better equipped with the tools that they need to succeed (Taylor 580). Training, however, does not only refer to
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professional development. Because most general education teachers have taken as little as one course on special education, it is critical that they become knowledgeable about the many facets of special education. Without specific information, and knowing where to find the information, a general educator will have difficulty teaching in the inclusive setting. To be successful, the educators must familiarize themselves with students' Individualized Education Programs, or IEPs, which includes information about disability, educational need, accommodations, modifications, and other important information. Knowledge of laws that may affect special education students and teachers is also vital (Worrell 45). Training should be provided to both the general and special educator. If teachers are not trained on how to share the instructional responsibilities within the same classroom, tensions will likely rise, which will only serve to be detrimental to the students. if, however, a clear plan is created beforehand, students will be able to reap the benefits. Students should also be met at their level of need by teachers, who should understand and practice accommodation and modification in the appropriate situations (Worrell 50). Expectations for students should be sared by all faculty and staff who work with a particular child. The more information educators arm themselves with, the more successful they can be.
A fourth roadblock is a lack of collaboration. Much collaboration should take place for success in the inclusive classroom, particularly between the general education and special education faculty and staff. If little or no collaboration occurs, questions may arise in the inclusive classroom that are never answered, such as at what level or pace should be used for the content that is taught, what should the expectations be, when and what should be modified, what accommodations should be used, and similar questions (Worrell 46). The teaching staff are not
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the only individuals who should participate in regular collaboration. Collaborative efforts should extend district-wide, to include administrators, counselors, psychologists, social workers, speech and language therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and any other personnel that have a vested interest in the education of students in the school system (47). Only through collaboration that is meaningful for the success of an inclusion program will...
Inclusion Special education as a concept is historically shrouded in controversy. (Seligmann, 2001, p. 1) Additionally the demand for special education funding and implementation has only increased as the number of students recognized as needing special services has continued to grow exponentially within the past forty years. (Macht, 1998, p. 1) The cultural awareness of the challenges and concerns of developmentally delayed students has also increased exponentially since the time when
It can be used to establish language dominance, to determine whether a student is performing at grade level in academic subjects in his native language, and to distinguish whether or not a student's weaknesses are due to limited English proficiency or to a specific learning disability. The test has the following sections: 1) Readiness; 2) Speech; 3) Functional Word Recognition; 4) Oral Reading; 5) Reading Comprehension; 6) Word Analysis;
E. part-time or full time special classes or alternative day schools. (Crowell, et al., 2005) VII. Various Strategies Required in Meeting Needs of All Students The work of Parker (2009) entitled "Inclusion Strategies in the Visual Arts Classroom" states that all educators "…need to be aware of different strategies that can be used to meet the needs of all students. Depending on the disability, teachers can apply these strategies in their classrooms
There is a growing body of support that indicates that while inclusion may be the best answer for mildly autistic children, it may not be the best setting for those with moderate to severe autism. Until now, research into the autistic child in the classroom has focused on taking the position of either for or against inclusion in the general classroom. However, when one takes the body of literature as
Inclusion on Autistic Children The inclusion of autistic children raises some important questions concerning the effects of inclusion, not only on the autistic child, but also on the entire classroom. Children with autistic spectrum disorders ranging from Kanners syndrome to Ausbergers Syndrome sometimes find external stimulation to be excruciating. We must then question the logic of placing them in an environment where their bodies must constantly result to the defensive
The same attitude and emotional stance is displayed towards all students. Another important point is that students with disabilities are supported not as if they require extra support, but rather as a natural part of the support that all students can expect in the specific classroom. This is, as seen in the other literature, is an important component of curbing the mental and psychological disadvantages of the more traditional
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