By Sandy Engel
The Arc of Racine | Posted: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 12:00 am
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is a federal law that was passed more than 30 years ago. The Arc on a national, state and local level was in the forefront of advocacy efforts at the time, and still continues to advocate for the best practices in special education. IDEA calls for children with disabilities to have access to the general education curriculum in the regular classroom, to the maximum extent possible, and to prepare students with disabilities for adult life that includes equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living and economic self-sufficiency.
Low expectations
Unfortunately, carrying out the law during those 30 years has been "impeded by low expectations and an insufficient focus on applying replicable research on proven methods of teaching and learning for children with disabilities," according to congressional findings in 1997 and 2004 when the law was reauthorized.
Inclusion
In the 1980s, disability advocates across the country became organized to push for the integration and inclusion of students with disabilities into the mainstream of schools. (Not to be confused with "mainstreaming," which meant that students had to "earn their way" into regular classes and "keep up" with the class.) In the 1980s, there was a big change in the Racine Unified School District when students with severe disabilities from age 3-21 who were being educated in one area of a school, were moved to age-appropriate schools. They were integrated into schools, but still educated in segregated "self-contained classes," a practice that continues today.
Change on horizon
For more than 20 years, The Arc has been working with parents and Racine Unified to bring about positive changes, especially in regards to the inclusion of students with disabilities. Unfortunately, The Arc has found that changing the status quo in a large system has been has been nearly impossible. But disability advocates in Racine are hopeful that change might be on the horizon.
In November, Dr. Elise Frattura, associate dean at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, presented a report to the school board on her study of special education services in our district. Her report indicated that the district's practices, especially in regards to inclusion, were decades old. Recommendations for change were made and the district has now set up ad hoc committees to look at the recommendations.
Inclusive schools
Here are some examples of what you might find in an inclusive school. These examples are quoted from Paula Kluth, educator and author, and can be found on her Web site at
http://www.paulakluth.com
* Staff development opportunities that reflect inclusive practices.
* A school leadership team that promotes inclusion through written materials, presentations, staffing decisions and building design.
* Teachers using language that reflects the philosophy of inclusive education (e.g., "our students" vs. "your students" or "my students").
* Students being educated in classrooms with their same-age peers.
* Students with a wide range of needs and abilities being educated throughout the school (not concentrated in one or two classrooms).
* Students moving with peers to subsequent grades in school.
* Students with disabilities having the same school day (length of day, time of arrival and departure) as those without disabilities.
* Students using the same transportation as students without disabilities.
* Students using the same school spaces (e.g., lockers, cafeteria) and schedules as students without disabilities.
* All students having opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities.
* Curricular and extracurricular activities encouraging interactions among peers with and without disabilities.
Kluth's site also noted that studies found that administrative leadership was considered to be the greatest support or the greatest obstacle to the success and development of inclusive schooling.
Frattura's report can be found on the district's Web page at
Go to Media, News, Nov. 13. Parents and others who want to get involved and find out more about the committees can call The Arc at (262) 634-6303.
The Arc is a membership organization that works for a better quality of life for children and adults with intellectual and other developmental disabilities and is a United Way of Racine County partner provider.