tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447392662850613354.post1961479530555376310..comments2024-02-25T10:24:30.868-05:00Comments on Special needs disability parenting BLOOM: Inclusion: One teacher's experimentBLOOM - Parenting Kids With Disabilitieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901482901008135659noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447392662850613354.post-11112432118118945822011-10-01T21:38:04.963-04:002011-10-01T21:38:04.963-04:00What a wonderful concept. You did indeed make eve...What a wonderful concept. You did indeed make everyone's world better. Can't wait to hear what the next idea you come up with to help the students be a part of each other's worlds.<br /><br />I'd love to see you do it every semester with a new group of non-disabled students. Friendships can't occur until time is spent together. And you are enabling the time, after that it's up to the students... all of them.<br /><br />KathyKathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05255644759888725872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447392662850613354.post-79461338442855241972011-09-28T18:53:22.115-04:002011-09-28T18:53:22.115-04:00Hi Anonymous -- thanks for writing.
I wrote that ...Hi Anonymous -- thanks for writing.<br /><br />I wrote that headline, and was using the word experiment in its broadest use -- 'to try something new or different.' In this particular school, inclusion of students with and without disabilities is new.<br /><br />While we can talk about how inclusion "should" be in an ideal world, we're working with boards that have chosen to take a segregated approach to teaching kids with disabilities. <br /><br />So when a teacher in such a school goes to great efforts to bring students together -- I applaud her.<br /><br />Are any children "automatically accepted" by their peers? I think that's a goal to strive for -- a place where kids see diversity as a natural part of life and enriching. <br /><br />But we can't move from segregation to 'automatic acceptance' in one fell swoop. Baby steps are better than no steps!<br /><br />I agree with what you're saying about how language can separate and stigmatize. <br /><br />It's an uphill battle in boards that are structured to 'not include.' <br /><br />But rather than criticize attempts at inclusion because they don't meet an ideal -- I welcome them and what we can learn from them.<br /><br />I would love to hear more about your experiences with inclusion. Thanks!BLOOM - Parenting Kids With Disabilitieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06901482901008135659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447392662850613354.post-20066132476175988902011-09-28T15:32:39.778-04:002011-09-28T15:32:39.778-04:00Why is this called an "experiment"? Stud...Why is this called an "experiment"? Students are not guinea pigs.<br /> <br />Inclusion is about automatic acceptance and belonging. It's not about calling kids "mainstream kids" or "community class students" or other labels that separate and marginalize. Until language usage changes, there will continue to be obstacles to overcome in achieving inclusive schools.<br /><br />Kids are kids. They should all be considered "ordinary" --that's the beauty of authentic inclusion.<br /><br />It would be nice to know what happened long after this three week unit took place. Did any of the relationships become long lasting? Did any of the new relationships continue outside of school hours --that's a true test of friendship. Do the kids call each other at home? Go out together after school? Get together on the weekend? <br /><br />How did this 'experiment' affect other students in the school, as well as the administors, teachers, caretaking staff, guidance staff and the other adults? Did they change the way they see and treat her students? That is, did the school culture change?<br /><br />The inclusive schools resource at the end of the article is excellent. Thanks for including it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447392662850613354.post-45671929660447926552011-09-27T06:37:10.240-04:002011-09-27T06:37:10.240-04:00That was interesting!!!That was interesting!!!Educational Resourceshttp://www.jumpstart.com/parents/resourcesnoreply@blogger.com