INCLUSION

“What does inclusion mean?” “How does inclusion differ from mainstreaming in the school setting?” “When is my child entitled to inclusion and when is he not entitled to it at school?” “How can I help my child be included in the community—at church, in sporting events, dance classes, and at work.” And the big question, “Do I really want my child included at school?” These are questions we all have or will encounter at one time or another and you may be encountering them now. Inclusion is a generally acknowledged--but not generally implemented--practice of including people with disabilities in all areas of the community.

In the school setting inclusion means including children with disabilities in regular classrooms. That doesn’t sound like such a big deal, but it is both to the teacher and to the child who will learn better by learning from peers who successfully do what he struggles to accomplish.

In the workplace, it means hiring people with disabilities to do the jobs that previously went to “typical” people. Workplace inclusion is becoming more and more evident as we go from area to area of our own community and see more disabled people at the corner store, in the library, and working in offices. Inclusion in the workplace is important not only to the employer who finds dedicated employees but also to the person who is seeking employment because it gives them the independence they need to live their own lives instead of the life drawn out for them by others.

Every parent wants to find their child’s most successful environment and some feel that does not include “inclusion.” However, if inclusion is a goal you seek for your child, this page can help. Here you’ll read what the experts on inclusion have to say, tips on how to achieve inclusion for your child and what parents who work for inclusion in the schools and community think about it.

Articles:

DSAGNO News: Inclusion is Everyone’s Responsibility
Tips on Including People with Down Syndrome
Nationwide Study Finds Inclusive Education Rewarding for All Involved

Links:
 Inclusion Press
Center on Disability & Community Inclusion
Inclusive Education Resources
Parents for Inclusion
Inclusion Research Institute
The Karen Gaffney Foundation
National Center for Educational Statistics
Including Your Child, April 1997

Recommended Reading:

Delicate Threads: Friendships between Children with and without Special Needs in Inclusive Settings
by Debbie Staub
1999 Parents' Choice Award
How do friendships between children with and without disabilities develop? How do they compare to friendships between typically developing children? What happens to these friendships over time? Does inclusion work? Staub answers these questions through careful observations of friendships between seven pairs of children—each including a child with a moderate to severe disability—who are classmates in an inclusive elementary school. By comparing her observations to current theories of childhood friendship, the author helps us to understand the value of relationships between a “typical” child and one with moderate to severe disabilities. She also provides practical suggestions to help teachers and parents foster and maintain friendships in inclusive settings. This thought-provoking book provides important, real-life evidence about the merits of inclusion and can help guide educators and parents of all children into the future. $16.95 isbn# 0-933149-90-5 WoodbineHouse

All Kinds of Friends, Even Green!
Written and Photographed by Ellen B. Senisi
2003 Skipping Stones Honor Award
What’s green, spiky, and is missing toes? It’s Zaki, the iguana, and she is Moses’s friend! In school, Moses, and the rest of his class are given the assignment of choosing a friend to write about. As he wonders which person to choose, he thinks of his circle of friends and what they share together. More than just a story about friendship, All Kinds of Friends, Even Green! looks at difference---such as being in a wheelchair or missing toes---in a unique way. With this beautifully photographed and engaging story, children discover that living with disability and facing its challenges can be seen as interesting, even positive. With an Afterword about disabilities, Moses, and iguanas, the story provides material for discussing inclusion at school and home. $14.95 isbn# 1-890627-35-6 WoodbineHouse

Also, Brookes Publishing offers a host of titles on Inclusion, many for teachers and parents on such topics as Inclusion 101, Community inclusion and pre-school and secondary school inclusion. Visit Brookes Publishing at brookes publishing for a complete list.