Inclusion Paper

690 Words2 Pages

Inclusion in the classroom often sparks much controversy among people. It raises the question of whether or not students with disabilities should be fully included, partially included, or not included at all in mainstream schooling. Currently there is no clear consensus on a definition of inclusion (Heward, 2006). The different definitions tend to reflect the person's own opinions towards inclusion. Those who feel as if students should not be included in the classroom tend to focus on the negative aspects of inclusion, such as the challenges and hard work it requires. However, studies show that full inclusion has many benefits to the students, both those who are disabled and those who are not. Inclusion has shown to improve the student's social skills, encourage communication, spark laws and regulations, and improve the overall schooling experience. With a lot of time, effort, and patience, full inclusion can be done in the classroom, with its benefits outweighing the hard work that it requires. Teacher attitude is the first key step in successfully including a disabled student in the classroom. Studies show that a teacher's attitude can determine the outcome of inclusion (Leathermen & Niemeyer, 2005). Those who go into the classroom with a positive attitude tend to promote inclusion and reap from its rewards. Teachers often feel that their previous experiences and background knowledge shape their attitudes toward inclusion. Inservice-learnings are a great way for teachers to gain some background knowledge about different disabilities and inclusion itself. Co-workers can provide some of their own experiences and methods that have previously worked for them. Guest speakers are also a great resource tool to use. Another way to bett... ... middle of paper ... ...wly learns what is accepted in school and can even start to blend in somewhat with the rest of the class. The classmates get to use inclusion as a chance to learn more about the disability. By having the class understand the disability, they are more apt to be accepting of the student. Inclusion helps to provide a better schooling experience for disabled students when the proper work is put into making it work. Overall, inclusion has many different benefits. It provides a different lifestyle for the disabled person and those around him/her. People become more accepting and understanding of the different disabilities through inclusion. It also provides a great opportunity for the child to interact with others and lead as normal of a life as possible. For those who are willing to put in the time and effort, they will see the many benefits that inclusion has to offer.

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