Segergated School for Children/Youth /w Disabilites? Postives & Negatives?

Question

Are there any positive reasons to seperate children with disabilities in a seperate school?

WOuld you be open to having disabled kids in your class?

Answer 1

Parents of children with special needs need choices just as all parents do.

Having struggled with an ineffective mainstreaming program, sometimes a parent may need to seek a small, charter or private program which can meet the needs of the child.

Answer 2

I have two handicapped children, with different difficulties.  One is in a regular school, the other in a special class.  

I think this issue is one of "case by case".  There are children who are easily fitted into a regular classroom, others who need such intense therapy that a regular classroom is not possible.  One must also consider the teachers' position in such a situation, with regards to the other children in the classroom and how it will affect their ability to learn all they have to within a school year.

All in all, I think there should not be a single rule (integrate all, or segregate all), but we should definitely go for the option which best suits the individual child.

Answer 3

I am all for mainstreaming when it is possible, and in the best interests of the child. A child with a disability should be given every opportunity to be a child first. Also, their nondisabled peers (and their parents) can learn a lot from them -- about the disability, about the various adaptions the child uses to participate like nondisabled youth do, and about tolerance, patience and compassion. Children who are seperated because of their disability may not have a chance to make friends with their nondisabled peers, because of the concept that "special classes" and "special schools" are uncool and only for "freaks." Also, by raising the bar for children with special needs, they frequently accomplish far more than people might expect.

However, I also believe that the ADA laws are being used in ways they were never intended to be used. I have a problem with cash-strapped public schools being forced to hire a full-time nurse for one student, who needs to be diapered and have his tubes cleaned (no, I am *not* making this up). Especially when there was a very good facility created to teach, provide therapy and assist with living and working skills for the very special needs population that now is underutilized because of the push to mainstream *every* child, whether or not its in the child's best interest.

As I said, children should be mainstreamed when possible, but it is NOT always going to be possible, as much as we would like to think otherwise. There are several factors to consider:

* Can the school provide the services that the child will need?

* Has the school dealt with a similar situation before?

* What are class sizes? Do the teachers have time to dedicate to assist the child over any learning bumps, or can the district hire an aid to assist?

* Is the building accessible? (you have areas where the school buildings were built in the early 1900s, and may have narrow doorways, lots of stairs, etc. Yes, *some* accessibility modifications can be made, but let's be realistic. Sometimes, it's almost cheaper to build a new building rather than trying to restructure an old one. Safety, too, is a consideration. Yes, a school can install an external elevator or an inside lift without spending a fortune. But what is the school going to do if there is a fire or other emergency that requires immediate evacuation -- a situation that may mean these lifts won't work??)

* Will the child be able to keep up with his or her peers, without help or with moderate, common-sense assistance?

The ultimate answer lies with the parents and the child. Each child is going to be different. Each circumstance is different. There is no blanket right or wrong answer to the question of mainstreaming vs. a special education school. Some students -- I would say most -- would be best in a "normal" school setting, or a modified version of such. But I would argue that there are students in the regular schools who really, really are not best served there, and would benefit best in a setting that is best equipped to cater to their needs.

Answer 4

I do not believe that the schools should be segregated...but not all of the classes should be integrated. Gym, lunch, music, etc. should be integrated...so that the disabled children are not completely separated. They have a disability, not a...contagious... disease. Therefore, they  should not be taken away from the "normal" kids. They need to learn to be as normal as possible, but at the same time, be given the right attention so that they can learn how to function as "normal" children do.

when i say normal, I am in no way referring to them in a negative way... i mean children without disabilities.

So, I say integrate...with a bit of segregation amongst classes.

Answer 5

There is no need to separate and thats why there are inclusion classes.  Disabled children need to be around typical peers so they can model appropiate behavior.  Typical children should be around their disabled peers to they can learn compassion and understanding.

Answer 6

Kids are cruel to the less fortunate.  Tough call.

Answer 7

Forgetting for a minute that it's illegal to separate kids just because of a disability, and forgetting that teachers don't have a choice about who is in their classrooms....

it's best for the students to be looked at as individuals, not even grouped by disability.  That is why they have an IEP (individualized education plan).  Sure, there are some kids who need specialized and intensive instruction; inclusion is not right for every kid (in my opinion, but some school districts disagree).  Some kids with disabilities "blend" and cope so well, they only need to check in with a teacher once a day ro week to make sure they are staying on track.  The whole idea is to have a continuum of services that goes from one extreme to the other, with everything in between.  You need programs just as diverse as the kids.  

I think, in a perfect world, every kid's needs and style should be looked at as closely as a special ed student's and the choices should be just as diverse.  But, I'm not holding my breath....