Sara Stewart

February 21, 2017

SpEd 480

Inclusion

Inclusion can be defined as the placement of students with disabilities in the general

education classroom (Vaughn 2011, p. 31). With such laws as No Child Left Behind Act

(NCLB) of 2001 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1990, not only has

there been an increase in the number of students that are part of inclusion programs, but laws

such as these have significantly improved the opportunities for individuals with disabilities

(Vaughn 2011, p. 5). According to an article published in Issues ...about Change(1995), Few

issues in education generate more discussion, confusion, or apprehension than the topic of

inclusion. There are both pros and cons to an inclusion environment.

Inclusion can have a positive impact on both Special Education and General Education

students. By seeing students with disabilities, whether physical or mental, students learn to be

accepting and to embrace the differences of others. Inclusion also allows students with

disabilities to have access to the information and social setting of the general education

classroom while still getting support from the special education supports and services.

Inclusion can also cause some challenges within the general education classroom.

There are cases in which the students placement on inclusion may cause a disruption in the

classroom. According to the article published in Issues ...about Change(1995), there are

concerns about students who are not placed properly within the inclusion system and that they

are monopolizing an inordinate amount of time and resources and, in some cases, creating

violent classroom environments.

As a teacher who will be serving a role in a general education setting, it is important to

realize that students with disabilities, no matter how small, will be apart of your classroom. It is
vital to do the best you can to accommodate and differentiate instruction for each student, while

challenging and nurturing all of your students.

Bibliography

Inclusion: The Pros and Cons. (1995). Issues ...about Change, 4(3). Retrieved February 20,
2017, from http://www.sedl.org/change/issues/issues43.html

Vaughn, S., Bos, C. S., & Schumm, J. S. (2011). Teaching Students Who are Exceptional,
Diverse, and At Risk in the General Education Classroom (5th ed.). New York, NY:
Pearson.