homeThe following video A Vision For Abby is from the Possibilities video series. The videos "focus on the lives and accomplishments of individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. ...Each video shows the myriad possibilities and options that all people have as they grow up, become independent, and pursue their life's dreams and goals." There are 4 videos, including one with a young girl with Down syndrome just starting out in school.
Meet Abby, a 21-yr old adult with Down syndrome and is an assistant in a preschool classroom. She was never placed in a special-education curriculum, and graduated in 2009.
Then there is this article, Inclusion: The Right Thing For All Students. It is written by Cheryl M. Jorgensen, Ph.D., a member of the affiliate faculty with the National Center on Inclusive Education at the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire.
(Words in bold are my own highlights) "The largest study of educational outcomes of 11,000 students with disabilities, the National Longitudinal Transition Study, showed that when students with disabilities spent more time in a general education classroom they were more likely to score higher on standardized tests of reading and math; have fewer absences from school; experience fewer referrals for disruptive behavior; and achieve more positive post-school outcomes such as a paying job, not living in segregated housing, and with having a broad and supportive social network. These results were true regardless of students’ disability, severity of disability, gender or socioeconomic status.
Furthermore, as the recent WNYC story states, the achievement of students without disabilities is not compromised by the presence of students with disabilities in their classrooms. Some studies even show that implementing inclusion on a school wide basis improves achievement for all students.
And just as important as academic outcomes are the attitudes and values that all students learn when they are educated together."
Home
Post a Comment