1) Special education programs and services are necessary because students with special needs learn differently and need to be guided in a different way compared to the average student. They require certain methods of teaching. Sometimes technology can be used which allow children to learn at their own rate and provide immediate feedback and reinforcement. The childs learning becomes more active and self directed.
2) A least restrictive environment forces the general education teacher to be more aware of each students needs. It enables the children with disabilities to interact with the other children. It also gives the students without special needs a chance to understand and respect the other students. A problem with this is that support is sometimes hard to find "judging by the attitude of school boards and state legislators regarding the resources they are willing to put into the inclusion program " (Kirk, 2009, p 59). There can be some restrictions in an inclusion classroom. The teacher may not be willing to accept and take on the challenging role of dealing with children with special needs.
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Your last point there... to understand and respect one another. What does that look like?
ReplyDeleteDo you think all teachers understand and respect those with disabilities? Especially at the HS level, what are the barriers to inclusion?
Nice posting. Can I go to Greece with you?
I thought this posting was interesting. I thought the hyperlink that went to the technology was really interesting.
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