Take Away #1: “It might be less convenient at first for teachers and students (and parents) to learn about and embrace the disabled student populations at their schools. But there is no inherent right to be free from inconvenience.”
This article is talking about how inclusion classrooms cost most in time. In the time it takes for teachers, schools, and parents to embrace and learn about properly including all students. I loved this idea that just because taking the time to learn how best to incorporate students may be inconvenient that is no reason not to take the time. Often people are opposed to inclusion classrooms because they do not understand what true inclusion looks like. They expect it to be just one general education teacher trying to manage and support all the students and their differing needs. Proper inclusion is supporting the students in the classroom with aids and assistive technology as needed. It is a team of people along with the general education teacher making sure that the students are getting the support they need. Integration should not be done thoughtlessly, ignoring all the students needs. It should be done intentionally looking to provide the best education for all students. Even if it takes a little extra time and inconvenience, you have no right to an inconvenience free life.
Take Away #2: “Studies show that when inclusion is done well, the whole class benefits. It doesn't take away from one group to focus on another—quite the opposite. It enhances the ability of non-disabled kids to cooperate, work together, understand and value different perspectives, think critically, and even test well.”
The article also makes the great point that inclusion in the general education classroom, done well, can benefit everyone involved. With the right support students with disabilities are able to work alongside their peers and contribute to the class. Students without disabilities are able to see how the other students are people to and they get a better understanding of their lives. Often when students with disabilities are separated from their peers and put in special education classrooms, when they could have been included in the general education class, they feel out of place and the other students start to view people with disabilities as something weird. Inclusion helps for everyone to see the value in each other and see each other’s gifts.
Grieco, H. (2020). Students With Disabilities Deserve Inclusion. It's Also the Best Way to Teach. Retrieved 30 April 2020, from https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2019/05/08/students-with-disabilities-deserve-inclusion-its-also.html
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