Special needs children in the classroom
The Stream discusses the inclusion of students with disabilities into the US public school system.
Ensuring your child receives the best possible education is a struggle for many, but even more so for parents of special needs children. With the passing of a 1975 federal law all children with disabilities in the US were guaranteed the right to a public school education. This paved the way for special needs students to become integrated into traditional classrooms, in what is considered an inclusive approach to learning. Proponents of inclusion point to the academic and social benefits for all the children; however, critics say many schools don’t have the resources and teacher skills necessary to foster a successful classroom environment. So, is inclusion the best approach, and if not, what is? Join the conversation at 1930GMT.
On this episode of The Stream, we speak to:
Dan Habib @_danhabib
Filmmaker & Project Director, University of NH Institute of Disability
Maureen Loftus @learningrxva05
Mother of child with special needs
Mary Laufner
Teacher
What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.