Providing education to all students in their least restrictive environment.
Inclusion
Inclusion comes in many forms.
All day in the regular classroom or part of the day in the regular classroom.
Children with intellectual, physical, or emotional challenges may require extra services that can and should be provided in the regular classroom.
Special education is not a place it is a service that can be provided anywhere.
Bridgie is 2 1/2 and we are just beginning our journey with her education.
There is really only one thing that bothers me about sending her out of the home into an educational setting.
It has nothing to do with learning her ABC's or her 123's.
It has to do with respect.
Will she be treated respectfully? Will she have the same 'value' as other students? Will she be challenged?
Only time will tell.
We are fortunate to live in the time that we do where inclusion is becoming more of the norm and reforms are taking place and our society is seeing the value of educating children with Down syndrome.
It's a lot to take in and will likely be a long road.
For more information of Special Education Inclusion:
Ooh, I love that top picture there, couldn't agree more. If children learn inclusion and acceptance at a young age they grow into more compassionate accepting adults.
ReplyDeleteLove that poster and couldn't agree more! Good luck on your journey!
ReplyDelete