tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post6119073004706283750..comments2024-02-25T21:33:44.400-06:00Comments on Garden of Eagan: Is it *Really* Inclusion?Leah Springhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02326240393099112570noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-73693626422073676152013-10-12T21:19:50.045-05:002013-10-12T21:19:50.045-05:00I will say, from being in the gifted program, then...I will say, from being in the gifted program, then for my area very early AP classes, the five of us just packes together. Other kids didn't want to be seen with the "nerds". This is prior to the hipster scene. I was further worse having grown up in the metal and death metal scene. So, from being a somewhat willing outsider, plus being not only a nerd but a STEM based girl nerd, plus having to go help my brother, I really didn't see inclusion outside the classroom because I had too much against me.<br /><br />So, I can't see a fix, because I do think it's a larger problem in schools not handling inclusion well and a social problem in not liking those who are different. I fully admit I'm bad there myself, because I expect problems from a limited sample. Furthermore, some of my differences are self chosen, I wouldn't give any up and they aren't restrictive towards being accepted to mainstream society. So while I can see the underlying problems, I'm not able to see quite the same issues you see with your children. Plus, I'm not sure how restrictive Ds is, or can be, because what was norm 15 years ago may not be the norm now.Slightly Evil Kittenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05337721669405404052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-55904455285191789342013-10-12T18:17:51.473-05:002013-10-12T18:17:51.473-05:00Mandy, I hope someone here can answer your questio...Mandy, I hope someone here can answer your questions about the gifted programs. We haven't dealt with them in more than 10 years so I don't know what the current trend is.<br /><br />Again, my questions were about inclusion <i>outside </i>of the classroom. This has been an excellent discussion about inclusion <i>inside</i> the classroom. I'd like to bring it back around to suggestions for inclusion <i>outside of the classroom. </i>Leah Springhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02326240393099112570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-58187215982248471682013-10-10T20:28:35.006-05:002013-10-10T20:28:35.006-05:00I don't see wanting your child to get an educa...I don't see wanting your child to get an education without destructive distractions as a problem. But, I grew up pulled out of regular classes to not distract other children because I was done well before them. Kindergarten teacher tried letting me read quietly at my desk, but because I wasn't doing what the rest of my classmates were, I was distracting them. So I got assignments and sat with another "gifted" child in the nurses office except for lunch and recess.<br /><br />My brother was a handful and then some. The two of us together were a nightmare probably in the day. Yet, he learned without an individual para to behave in a generally acceptable manner. If he grabbed something that wasn't his, he was told no, had to give it back, and he threw numerous tantrums. I had to go calm him down more than once a day for years. If a child needs to do some activity with one on one help, rather than letting him walk on furniture and destroy other's work - neither of which are acceptable in most people's minds - why couldn't the para tell him no, then let him walk around the classroom or halls with the one on one supervision?<br /><br />I'm not asking to be rude or excusing anyone. I am honestly curious. Because I've seen mainstreaming/inclusion improving for special ed, but gifted programs still pull kids into very small groups for majority of the day here. Yet, it's apparently dismissive to ask why the gifted programs are still excluded. But kids are kids and it's not fun to only interact with the same four classmates from kindergarten to senior year of high school and it was down right miserable being the only girl. Slightly Evil Kittenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05337721669405404052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-31895429633450872822013-10-09T00:04:48.617-05:002013-10-09T00:04:48.617-05:00This thread is reminding me so much of a conversat...This thread is reminding me so much of a conversation I had one spring evening back in 1993 or so.<br /><br />I was sitting on the front porch with a few neighbors when one mother started complaining because her daughter was so frequently being asked by the teacher to help the girl with Down syndrome (first student with Ds at this elementary school at the time). Her rant continued for several minutes as she loudly complained that was not why she sent her daughter to school, and they better as heck find someone else to help this dumb girl or she was going to go complain to the school board. I sat very patiently waiting for her to realize I was sitting there and although Sarah was a toddler at the time, would hopefully one day be at that same school. She never connected the dots, at least not that night. I wanted to crawl home I was so hurt and humiliated.<br /><br />Fast forward twenty years or so and said mother's oldest daughter became a medical social worker due to her time spent with Sarah, and her youngest daughter became a special education teacher due to her many years spent with Sarah. That daughter also asked Sarah to be a bridesmaid at her wedding a few weeks ago. A natural role between girls in a friendship. http://sarahely8989.blogspot.com/search/label/Friends <br /><br />The daughter who was asked so many times to help the classmate with Ds, she's getting married in two weeks in New Orleans and guess who will be there and I guarantee will be the life of the party...Sarah. The bride-to-be just sent me a note that she is so grateful Sarah is coming because her wedding day would not be complete without her. <br /><br />Thankfully, that teacher all those years ago had foresight to see the beauty of inclusion. It's not about the child with Ds...it's about making all those around them better human beings. I'm not sure to this day if the mother has ever truly gotten that message, but fortunately her next generation did.<br /><br />JEllenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00010754737854662106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-59323524164431661002013-10-08T22:11:20.294-05:002013-10-08T22:11:20.294-05:00Let me educated you. When you state your child is ...Let me educated you. When you state your child is entitled to an educational setting free of special needs peers, she is going to be perceived as a princess or a special snowflake because you view her as above her less than typical peers. As far as her education is concerned, I suggest you look into private school or (since she prefers to be with you) homeschooling. Unfortunately, once she is in the real world, she will be forced to deal with people who are slower, less intelligent and more "needy" than she is...does this mean we should restrict special needs individuals from being included in the classroom AND general society? God forbid someone break your eggs in the checkout line. Good forbid your business mail arrives from the mail room give minutes late... but how dare anyone interested with the daily running of your life. <br /><br />I'm sure we could get some of the concentration camps back up and running. Let's just scour the earth of anyone who is disruptive... be they special needs, mentally ill or just an asshole.CJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17249948212196131574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-60458734641291046492013-10-08T20:23:21.187-05:002013-10-08T20:23:21.187-05:00My trouble with inclusion comes from my experience...My trouble with inclusion comes from my experience with it. As Leah mentioned I come from a district with a very poor Special Ed Dept. I probably did not start out on the right foot and held the school district responsible for their responsibility.<br /><br />The student that I spoke of didn't even have an IEP. Should I blame his mom or the school district? His mom was/is my friend.<br /><br />To set the scene. The children are working on a art project using finger paints. "Said student' get's up and walks across classmates desks and pretty destroys at least 4 students art projects before he is finally settled down.<br /><br />By this age we have children that are concerned about their grade and proud of their work that will hang at teachers conferences. But it has been completely ruined by another student. <br /><br />How do you expect me or my daughter to feel. Does she not have rights as well? <br /><br />My daughter has been called a princess, a snow flake, referred to our "perfect world"?<br /><br /><br />I am an an adult survivor of incest. raised my daughter in a trailer park . Her life started on Welfare. So no perfect world or princess here.<br /><br />You can all stand up for your children and call names. I have stood for my child and have not called a single name!!<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06119745038988784509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-48964665338684716972013-10-08T07:51:42.224-05:002013-10-08T07:51:42.224-05:00I wrote a comment on this post a few days ago but ...I wrote a comment on this post a few days ago but lost it before it had a chance to go up.<br /><br />I don't know what point I was trying to make, and probably won't get to a point in this comment either, but I just wanted to share from my own experience of having grown up with a best friend who had special needs. Truth be told, I have no idea what his 'special need' was: back then (in the late 70s, this boy was labelled a 'slow learner', and his family unashamedly called him retarded). <br /><br />I met him, Laurie, when I was around seven years old and he was ten years old. He lived a few doors down from my house and soon after my family moved into the neighbourhood, Laurie and I became inseparable. It didn't matter that I was a girl and he was a boy. His 'special needs' issues were never a problem or even questioned by me or by my other neighbourhood friends. Had his quirky ways, and I loved him with all my heart. We did everything together - just as any other 'bffs' would do. My parents took him along on our family outings and his parents took me on theirs.<br /><br />One thing I NEVER understood in those days was why Laurie couldn't come to my school with me. He was picked up by a bus with the words 'Special School for Slow Learners' or some such thing on the side of it. Laurie never could write or read, and he did inappropriate things like sing loudly when he was happy, and bite on his fist when he was upset. He also sometimes defecated in his pants if he procrastinated going to the bathroom in time. The way I saw it though, the 'regular' boys in my school did worse than those things lol. I remember asking Laurie's mother if she could please send him to MY school so that we could play together all day long, and I remember her answer: "Laurie isn't smart like you are sweetheart. He can't learn like you can, because he's retarded". I remember thinking in my mind, "HE CAN LEARN BUT YOU GROWN UPS CAN'T SEE IT!"<br /><br />I stayed friends with Laurie right up until I was fourteen years old, when his family moved away. I remember making him a card and him biting his fist in agitation because he didn't know how to read it.<br /><br />Kids will and can and DO include children with special needs if they are given the right opportunity to do so. No-body thought it odd, or weird or 'unique' or 'main-streaming' when a little seven year old girl befriended a ten year old boy who society deemed 'retarded'. All that we kids saw in one another was a kindred spirit - a playmate, another child to love and play with... nothing more, nothing less.<br /><br />I hear you Leah, and I 'get it' regarding what you are saying in your post and in your comments. Don't stop advocating for those precious babies of yours. If only society would stop it already with the 'us' and 'them' mentality, then perhaps mainstreaming would really BE that, and kids would learn from an early age that we all have more in common with one another than we have differences.<br /><br />I hope I made even a teesy bit of sense in all of that :)Imogenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10840576866233677664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-68053669748219733112013-10-08T02:12:31.088-05:002013-10-08T02:12:31.088-05:00Ack, I hit post too soon!
The district my brothe...Ack, I hit post too soon! <br /><br />The district my brother and I went to - elementary had all "non traditional" students at one school, yet school had less funding than smaller schools in higher income areas. This served no student well. Gifted program was all but independent study from 1st grade on - or why I can write long rambles, but have no clue on parts of speech and an LD was missed until college. I got 99% on math standardized tests and all but 2 I had perfect scores, yet the only year I got a double digit percent (12%) in English standardized tests, I'd filled in the bubbles in a math based pattern. 90+ gap is a clear indicator of some sort of LD. Regular ed kids were in 30+ student classes with no para from kindergarten on. Special ed program had a 7:1 ratio student to para. None of the students were well served. <br /><br />Middle school put gifted program in one school, special ed program in another. I'm not sure how bad it was, other than being middle school.<br /><br />High school repeated elementary school. Now with then ESL added. So once again, school didn't serve any student well.<br /><br />All before No Child Left Behind. It's strictly the adults not being concerned and the schools not being concerned about mainstreaming or inclusion.<br /><br />Yet, when the young man with some disorder (I don't know what, I think it was on the autism spectrum) would start making extremely distracting noises, because I was used to independent study, I could get a pass and go study in the library. But the rest of the class was distracted, so yes, it can be a problem. But again, lack of school concern as the problem class was right before lunch, the young man was fine earlier in the day and after lunch, but couldn't switch his class and lunch which would have benefited him as much as everyone else.<br /><br />So, I see the problem. I see it's based originally at least on the schools. I can see how it could be a learned avoidance tactic to some parents, even if that's not right. But I don't know what the fix would be or how to implement it.<br /><br />But, I got through high school with two friends, both from meeting outside of school. I bulldozed my short, petite self through the crowded halls. So, I view that as normal high school. <br />Slightly Evil Kittenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05337721669405404052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-77772498341454381102013-10-08T01:31:58.239-05:002013-10-08T01:31:58.239-05:00I pray this comes across with the kindness I'm...I pray this comes across with the kindness I'm striving for.<br /><br />I wonder if the mainstream labeled as inclusion is backlash from early inclusion labeled as mainstreaming done without considering the best interests of all people.<br /><br />I fully admit, accept and am working to get over my Ds concerns. It's not in the person with an extra bit of God planted in them, it is me. But, early mainstreaming included my brother who was violently targeted by identical twins who had Ds.<br /><br />I know that violent or aggressive behavior is not a Ds only issue. I know very well not all persons with Ds have the violent behavior that terrified my brother and me. I know the questionable support offered to the twins hurt them far more than they hurt my brother. I hope society knows more now and does a far better job at protecting those who need help, support and guidance. <br /><br />But I can also look at reality and see it's better, but it's not great. I know I'm not the only person who felt the damage from poorly done mainstreaming. But, not all see a problem, and I'm not sure how much I can grow up myself, let alone others. <br /><br />Which leads to unfair parental concerns on inclusion/mainstreaming/whatever term a school district uses. Yet, I'm not sure how to fix it. Because a school system can require whatever, but it can't force children to accept everyone, and if parents are saying don't play with that group because of whatever, the child learn the discriminatory behavior at home and I'm not sure how society fixes that. Which has far reaching implications, and is why I'll support Spread the Word online, but locally, the word isn't used in what I hear and the high school age supports have just swapped the word for f*****, so they aren't actually learning to accept all people, they've just switched to a new derogatory term.<br /><br />Sigh. Some days, I just hate people as a species.Slightly Evil Kittenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05337721669405404052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-42641821198920007822013-10-06T09:41:48.713-05:002013-10-06T09:41:48.713-05:00If the school is using TAs (teacher assistants), t...If the school is using TAs (teacher assistants), there isn't any reason why one can't be assigned to walk with Angela to her classes. They wouldn't be late as she goes before the bell. It would introduce her to 6 or 7 new typical peers and allow her to make new friends. <br /><br />Lunch...wow. Unless there is a supervision issue, my vote is to let the kids hang with everyone. At a previous school I taught at, we took the kids with special needs down a bit early because it took them longer to choose. Then we backed off and they sat where they wanted with friends. We left supervision to the admins. <br /><br />Assemblies were the same. Everyone went together and sat with their grade level. I might sit in the middle of a grade. As a teacher, I would be expected to do that, so they wouldn't know who I was watching. <br /><br />At the current school I am at, we are opening a coffee shop in the mornings. The Extended Resource kids will staff it. The rest of the school will get to meet and interact with the kids one on one. <br /><br />We don't leave people out. We include them in everything. Yes, I make a pain of myself sometimes, but I bust my butt to make sure all the kids are included in everything. We have kids on the sports teams (PLAYING on first string!), we have kids in concert choir, we have kids in drama. We have a building of 1600 kids.<br /><br />Leah, we have a young lady with Ds in our building that is less than 4 feet tall. She wades right into the middle of passing period, and throws elbows at the big boys to get through. She goes where she wants. Everyone loves her. Her smile lights up my day. I teach her adaptive PE class. Lisa Rileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10260290024224871039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-49784585928294266172013-10-06T09:24:17.992-05:002013-10-06T09:24:17.992-05:00In my personal experience, and the experiences of ...In my personal experience, and the experiences of close (real life) friends, the school that do it best are the schools have to practice full inclusion because there is no other option. When a school is too small to have a special ed program because there are only one or two students with cognitive impairments. <br /><br />For two years Angela was in an elementary school that had multi-age classrooms. There were only around 200 students in grades 1-5, and Angela was the only student at a mild/moderate level of disability. The other students with IEPs had them due to learning disabilities. The only pull-outs Angela had were for speech and OT, and even those services were most often provided in the classroom. <br /><br />Here's a quick snapshot of what it looked like. A 2nd grade spelling test, for example: Large group, here is your word, "school." Angela here is your word, "cat". The other kids would write their word, Angela, who was unable to write, did hers on a keyboard or with letter tiles.<br /><br />Now, at the high school level things are so different. I don't expect Angela to sit though a high school level science class. Maybe another student is, but Angela is not. For her, science, math and reading need to be at a more functional level: cooking, reading recipes, labels, menus, street and directional signs. <br /><br />My point of the post, while it was about inclusion, was more about how inclusion works in more than just the regular ed classroom setting. What about the OTHER activities involved in a typical school day? The assemblies, the dances, the pep fests, lunch?<br /><br /> Another situation specific to Angela, but I know is other kids face: Due to her very small size, Angela has trouble even walking the very crowded hallways of her high school during normal passing times. It is actually dangerous for her and she has gotten hurt. Instead she passes between classes two-three minutes early or late. Easy enough, right? She usually goes alone. Passing time between classes is a major time for socializing in high school. Having a friend walk with her instead of her walking alone would remove a small level of isolation. <br /><br /> What are things school can do to foster inclusion those "other" activities, particularly at the middle and high school levels (because it's much easier at the elem. level) Tamara had some good examples.Leah Springhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02326240393099112570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-35230197043929014082013-10-06T06:09:48.879-05:002013-10-06T06:09:48.879-05:00It sounds like when it comes to the details, you a...It sounds like when it comes to the details, you are not in as much disagreement as seemed at first. You both object to a system ("mainstreaming") which purports to "include" but ultimately fails to meet the needs of either typical or SN students. Well-trained staff is crucial - how do we get there? <br /><br />I am the mother of 5 "typical" children, each of whom has unique needs that I advocated for at school. For years I had great disdain for "inclusion", for all the usual reasons. I was a great fan of tracking, figuring that "inclusion" as I saw it practiced wasn't helping anyone.<br /><br />Then I became a teacher, and had to learn to do inclusion myself. And I will say right here, I was NOT "well-trained" in it, despite attending a prestigious Ed school that certainly gave lip service to it. To some extent I learned on the job by observing other teachers, some of whom did it well and others, not so much. I never became really good at it, and I am no longer a classroom teacher. I do appreciate, however, how inclusion works when done right.<br /><br />The best experience I have seen was in a multi-age montessori classroom, where students at different levels can find peers in each area, without the stigma of a pull-out class. Does anyone have experience with how that kind of setup works for kids with SN?<br />DandGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13078892548041115257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-60217966106557332772013-10-06T02:26:19.382-05:002013-10-06T02:26:19.382-05:00Experts said it best: Sometimes while looking for ...Experts said it best: Sometimes while looking for "inclusion" you are asking for others to disregard their own views, which is equally important as your own.<br /><br />Calling another's child a princess and perfect little snowflake. Why is what I want for my child in regards to education less important.<br /><br />As Leah said, this is probably about having staff that makes the program work.<br /><br />One child's needs are not more important than another's.<br /><br />I happen to know a lot about the said child because I was and still am friends with his mom. <br /><br />She was a frustrated with the situation as I was.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06119745038988784509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-21970162777820179222013-10-06T00:41:36.028-05:002013-10-06T00:41:36.028-05:00I think ignorance comes from lack of experience. I...I think ignorance comes from lack of experience. If youve never experienced it, you just dont get it. I think most parents of children with special needs did not "get it" till they had children with special needs. Bullying and intimidation or humilliation is Not any different coming from the special needs community than it is from the mainstream community. Compassion should be extended from both sides of the fence.Expertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17502314763958220668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-48822527766013190382013-10-06T00:29:47.124-05:002013-10-06T00:29:47.124-05:00Man this is worse than the parents flipping out an...Man this is worse than the parents flipping out and wanting a girl out of their kids class because she had a severe allergy and the kids had to wash their hands! Heaven forbid we teach our children good hand hygiene!<br /><br />While you live in your perfect world do you realize that there are probably multiple children in your daughters classes that have IEP's and need special help? Children you probably wouldn't even think about needing it! <br />Heaven forbid if you daughter not only learn book smarts, but how to be a compassionate person as well! I know nowadays it's all about how much money you can pull in, which is why our world is still filled with such ignorance! Laceyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03321275110857561824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-16127337345709594742013-10-06T00:22:01.194-05:002013-10-06T00:22:01.194-05:00Its pretty easy to see it from a different perspec...Its pretty easy to see it from a different perspective when your child with the disability is not your only child. Leah Springhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02326240393099112570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-35650778672113740942013-10-06T00:20:27.241-05:002013-10-06T00:20:27.241-05:00Im not taking a side here. I just see parents who ...Im not taking a side here. I just see parents who want whats best for their children. Typical or not. I THINK ITS IMPORTANT THAT ALL PARENTS TAKE A STEP BACK AND SEE IT FROM THE VIEW THAT IS NOT THEIR OWN. Sometimes while looking for "inclusion" you are asking for others to diregard their own views, which is equally important as your own.Expertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17502314763958220668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-16455900128461362722013-10-06T00:20:00.020-05:002013-10-06T00:20:00.020-05:00Im not taking a side here. I just see parents who ...Im not taking a side here. I just see parents who want whats best for their children. Typical or not. I THINK ITS IMPORTANT THAT ALL PARENTS TAKE A STEP BACK AND SEE IT FROM THE VIEW THAT IS NOT THEIR OWN. Sometimes while looking for "inclusion" you are asking for others to diregard their own views, which is equally important as your own.Expertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17502314763958220668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-50836591247998589142013-10-05T23:30:51.273-05:002013-10-05T23:30:51.273-05:00Actually, Kim's daughter went to a school dist...Actually, Kim's daughter went to a school district next door to mine. The special needs community in the area is a small one, and knowing the age of her daughter I would totally be able to put together what student she's talking about. But whatever... The school district her daughter went to is even worse about MAINSTREAMING than most districts in the area, and many their special ed students open enroll to this district instead. I can only imagine the bad situations that happened in classrooms that caused those students to move. But you know what? *Some* districts do that on purpose so those students will do just that...go away...so those who are more deserving of an education can get the time they need.Leah Springhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02326240393099112570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-9961321750361082142013-10-05T22:46:29.371-05:002013-10-05T22:46:29.371-05:00 Hay Kim So i have a question if your daugh... Hay Kim So i have a question if your daughter was being bullied during class by a general ed student would u want that kid in a separate room.<br /><br /> PS I hope you are not a teacher .AZ Chapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04797298787967914735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-19049576107061793722013-10-05T22:46:13.097-05:002013-10-05T22:46:13.097-05:00I have yet to figure out why Kim thinks that her p...I have yet to figure out why Kim thinks that her perfect world where all who are "different" are put away is functional. Did she grow up in an Eastern European country? That's what happens there, as we who follow Leah's blog know only too well. <br /><br />Kim, my goodness. This world is not made for your princess to have all she wants when she wants how she wants. This world is about learning how to get along with others. That includes you learning to get along with others. You violated a poor student's privacy tonight by describing an incident from 3rd grade. Do you realize that others can identify him from that? You could be sued. And should be. FERPA and HIPAA exist for a reason. <br /><br />You can exist in your perfect world if you choose. The rest of us imperfect people are going to work our tails off to try to make this world a better place by including everyone, even stuck-up people like you who are afraid to meet someone who has an extra chromosome and extra character! Lisa Rileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10260290024224871039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-25614469440185768162013-10-05T22:14:28.061-05:002013-10-05T22:14:28.061-05:00And I completely agree....it was the adults in cha...And I completely agree....it was the adults in charge of this disruptive student who failed and caused your perfect little snowflake to be disrupted...not the child him/herself. And I am amazed you are so familiar with this child's issues. Apparently he/she is not entitled to privacy either.CJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17249948212196131574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-3497515272199285222013-10-05T22:12:26.132-05:002013-10-05T22:12:26.132-05:00Oh....I can solve this. Let's just lock up al...Oh....I can solve this. Let's just lock up all the kids "like ours" in closets and let them rock and drool the day away so kids like Kimberly's don't have to be disrupted by them. I mean, that's fair, right?!<br />CJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17249948212196131574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-16425847858253389062013-10-05T22:07:29.841-05:002013-10-05T22:07:29.841-05:00So...that one child is an example of what all chil...So...that one child is an example of what all children with special needs are like????? It sounds to me like the problem wasn't the child but staff who didn't have a clue what to do with the situation. Again, the difference between inclusion and mainstreaming is huge. It takes well-trained staff to make it work. Leah Springhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02326240393099112570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-18483337224754077402013-10-05T22:03:10.385-05:002013-10-05T22:03:10.385-05:00Leah..if you kids are involved in those outside of...Leah..if you kids are involved in those outside of school activities. I would think that they are making lot's of friends that share the same interest's.<br /><br />That is what will be truly valuable in adult life. To expect people that do not have the same interest's to befriend your child is a bit unrealistic.<br /><br />They will make friends in special olympics, bowling etc. Just as my daughter made friends outside of school.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06119745038988784509noreply@blogger.com