The Inclusive Class

Inclusion, as special education experts agree, is the ideal way of educating students with disabilities.  They  are placed in general education classrooms along side their same-age peers, despite physical or academic ability levels.  Often, however, inclusive education is a term that is misused and misunderstood by parents, teachers and staff.   Here is a list of top ten ways to tell if your child’s school is truly inclusive: 1. School Community - the school community (staff, PTA, parents) is friendly, encourages parent-school communication, welcomes volunteers, and celebrates student learning through bulletin boards, newsletters and school-wide events. 2. School Design - the building has ramps, large doorways, paved walkways, drinking fountains, sinks, storage spaces and coat hooks that a child with special needs can use. 3. School Spaces - the lunchroom, library, playground, bathrooms, and gymnasium (or Multipurpose Room) can be easily accessed and u...

I've always been highly affected by my surroundings.  I can't tell you how many times I've changed doctors, dentists, hotel rooms and even classrooms. It might not necessarily be a sensory-processing issue, but there is no doubt that I'll react either physically or emotionally if the room does not "feel good". Therefore, I've been very aware of the children in my class who might also need a modification in the classroom space, materials, light, noise or smells. In fact, when I have students who begin to demonstrate inappropriate behavior, the first thing I do is change the child's immediate surroundings.  Often, that is all that needed in order to correct the misbehavior. Below is a sample of strategies that can be used to make a classroom sensory-friendly. By making a classroom sensory-friendly, children who have sensory-processing issues can truly focus on the learning activities without distraction or discomfort. These strategi...