The Inclusive Class Project - Modifying Math

Here is a quick way to modify a math sheet for students working below grade-level! 

Inclusive Education: How to be an Advocate for Your Child

Parents may face many challenges when exploring education options in the American public school system — especially if they have a child with special needs. 

For example, how do parents find an education setting that best fits their child’s specific needs? Will the supports they’re seeking for their child be provided by the school? And if not, how do parents advocate for a more suitable placement? Searching for the right education setting for a child with a disability can be challenging, but it’s most effective with research and understanding a few key advocacy strategies.

What Is Inclusive Education?

Years of research and experience tell us that inclusive education — the practice of educating children of all abilities in one classroom — is the gold standard. Many schools, however, still have classrooms where children with disabilities are educated separately from the rest of the student population. The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), a federal law originally enacted in 1975 and revised multiple times since, provides guidance for educating children with special needs. Though the word “inclusion” isn’t specifically used in its documents, the law requires that, to the greatest degree possible, children with disabilities should be educated in the “least restrictive environment” alongside their non-disabled peers — that is, in classrooms with children of all abilities.

Providing this type of learning environment, however, is subject to the needs of the student and the ability of the school to meet them. If a child’s learning needs can be met in general education classes, then the school can offer inclusive education. If the school believes it won’t be able to provide the supports a child requires in this type of setting — due to constraints on classroom options, staffing, budget, or resources — then a child can be placed in a “self-contained” (or segregated) classroom. While advocates for childrenwith learning disabilities often support inclusive education — and many parents prefer it — the reality is that you may not always have a choice at the school your child will attend.

If you are looking for this type of placement, ............ READ MORE HERE.

The Inclusive Classroom: Education for Children of All Needs

Traditionally, public schools in America have educated students with disabilities separately from those without. 

In the past, this meant that students with special needs were sequestered in their own classrooms because educators believed that they were better served away from their typically-developing peers. As awareness of equal rights for the disability community has grown, an emerging body of research has lent support to a new approach to teaching, known as inclusive education. 

Inclusive education is reforming the way we engage and teach today’s students. It reflects the diversity of the larger world and recognizes that all children, regardless of ability, deserve equal educational opportunities. The inclusion of students with special needs in general education classrooms is quickly proving to be a highly effective model for allchildren.

Related: "What Are the Main Differences Between Inclusion and Special Education Classrooms?"

The History of Inclusive Education

The Disability Rights Movement, which began in the 1960s, has made considerable strides securing equal opportunities in areas such as housing, jobs, and education. Today, we no longer believe that a lack of physical ability equates to a lack of intelligence. Over time, we have come to recognize the contributions that each person makes through her skills, talents, and intellect. 

Related: "Strengths of People with Learning Disabilities"

As a result of this gradual shift in thinking, people began to realize that millions of children with disabilities were being underserved, leading to the 1990 passage of The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This law requires “… public schools to make available to all eligible children with disabilities afree appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment appropriate to their individual needs.” In general, “least restrictive environment” means that, to the maximum extent possible, children who have disabilities should be educated alongside non-disabled peers so that all children have access to the same educational opportunities and experiences. In schools, the type of learning environment that provides this access is known as inclusive education.

The Nature of Inclusive Education

Inclusive education has several key elements that differ from traditional, segregated special education. First, it begins with the premise that all children can and do learn from meaningful, quality curricula. The term, “presume competence,” coined by inclusion expert Cheryl M. Jorgensen, reminds us not to judge a person’s abilities or potential. Based on this philosophy, inclusive classrooms are........KEEP READING HERE.