Inclusion…are we doing everything we can to make it work?

As many of you know there is a movement within the schools to ensure that children with autism and other disabilities are included in the general education classroom. As a teacher in a school district I find myself asking the question: Are we actually doing everything we can to make it work?

The answer that I keep finding is: No! We are most definitely not doing everything we can.

Unfortunately, there are presently many barriers that are making true inclusive education impossible. There are the issues of: inadequate funding, ineffective structuring of caseloads, extremely high caseloads for teachers, and untrained and misinformed teachers in our school districts. If we are to realize our dream of ensuring that children with disabilities are afforded the right, to which they are entitled, to a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment and enjoy freedom to pursue their own happiness we need to break down these barriers. The only way we are going to break down these barriers to true inclusiveness is to stop accepting the status quo and advocate for the rights and needs of these special children.

Inclusion IS possible, but not the way that we are currently doing it because what we now have is people saying a lot of good things but not taking the appropriate actions and holding our schools accountable.