The Benefits of Full Inclusion of All Students with Learning Disabilities

Advantages of Inclusion for Disabled Children

There are many advantages for children with disabilities, to be placed in a regular classroom setting. First of all, children are spared the effects of being separate and segregated. Sometimes, segregated education can provide negative effects, such as labeling (Wolery, M. and Wilbers, J., 1994). Labeling of a disabled child can be held over their head throughout their education. Also, being separated can make other children have negative attitudes towards them due to them being separated so drastically. Another advantage of inclusion is the disabled child has a competent model to follow. This way the disabled child can learn new adaptive skills. They get the opportunity to learn how to use their existing skills through imitation. Also, they are provided with opportunities to learn more realistic life experiences that prepare them to live in the community. Most importantly, they get the opportunity to develop friendships with typically developing peers (Wolery, M. and Wilbers, J., 1994). Mona Hajjar Halaby, an educator at Park Day School in Oakland states, "The thing that students struggle with most is how to make a friend. How to keep a friend. How to stand up to a friend and how to be a good ally." With Inclusion, disabled children get the opportunity to learn how to do those four things. These are some of the positive effects of inclusion for a disabled child, but in the end it is really up to the disabled child to make the best of his/her schooling, regardless of the circumstances.

From the book “Collective Perspectives on Issues Affecting Learning Disabilities,” it shows that in inclusion the disabled child has many responsibilities. How well the students d...

... middle of paper ...

...n how to approach other children in a positive manner. He has been a problem for other students and has negatively affected the learning environment.”

Mrs. Waldron is a teacher at PineHearst Elementary School and feels that the practice of inclu sion can be extremely stressful on teachers and not beneficial to students.

Conclusion

As one can see, society is pushing for Inclusion in conventional classroom settings.

There are many advantages and disadvantages to Inclusion. Really, you have to take each case on an individual basis and see what is best for the disabled child and the non-disabled child in the classroom. Also, one has to take into account if the teacher is prepared to have a disabled child in the classroom. It can be extremely challenging. Many people have different opinions on Inclusion. The question is what are you…pro or con inclusion?