|
| |
Benefits of Inclusive Classrooms
Maximizes Individual Growth
Builds a Sense of Community
Children with Special Needs
- affords a sense of belonging to the diverse human family
- provides a diverse stimulating environment in which to grow and learn
- evolves in feelings of being a member of a diverse community
- enables development of friendships
- provides opportunities to develop neighborhood friends
- enhances self-respect
- provides affirmations of individuality
- provides peer models
- provides opportunities to be educated with same-age peers
General Education
- provides opportunities to experience diversity of society on a small scale
in a classroom
- develops an appreciation that everyone has unique and beautiful
characteristics and abilities
- develops respect for others with diverse characteristics
- develops sensitivity toward others' limitations
- develops feelings of empowerment and the ability to make a difference
- increases abilities to help and teach all classmates
- develops empathetic skills
- provides opportunities to vicariously put their feet in another child's
shoes
- enhances appreciation for the diversity of the human family
Teachers
- helps teachers appreciate the diversity of the human family
- helps teachers recognize that all students have strengths
- creates an awareness of the importance of direct individualized
instruction
- increases ways of creatively addressing challenges
- teaches collaborative problem solving skills
- develops teamwork skills
- acquires different ways of perceiving challenges as a result of being on a
multi-disciplinary team
- enhances accountability skills
- combats monotony
Society
- promotes the civil rights of all individuals
- supports the social value of equality
- teaches socialization and collaborative skills
- builds supportiveness and interdependence
- maximizes social peace
- provides children a miniature model of the democratic process
Source: "Creative Educators at Work: All Children Including Those
with Disabilities Can Play Traditional Classroom Games," by Donna Raschke,
Ph.D., and Jodi Bronson, Ed.S., 1999
|
