What are the differences and similarities between mainstreaming and inclusion?

Question

What are the differences and similarities between mainstreaming and inclusion?

Answer 1

In most school districts, the difference can be how much money the state and feds give them for a particular child.  Kids who are mainstreamed have a Special Day Class or other placement and then spend some of their time in General Ed.  Kids who are fully-included have a placement of the General Ed classroom and then are pulled out of GenEd for time in a Special Day Class, Resource Room, etc.

As an educational advocate and parent of a special-needs child, I am a huge proponent of full-inclusion.  The children will not grow up to go to a special bank, a special grocery store, etc.  All children need to learn how to include all people regardless of disability.  Children need full inclusion and then be pulled out as necessary.  Fully included students can be given the same curriculum, curriculum with accomodations, modified curriculum, parallel curriculum or even a completely different curriculum.  A great case to read about is Holland Vs Sacramento.

That being said, many teacher do not like to modify curriculum too much.  Many teachers are already overburdened and underpaid.  However, I will fight for the child's rights over an adult's rights any day.  Always advocate for extra help, support and training for a GenEd teacher.  For example, my son has a one-ton-one aide with him all day in class because he is so highly distractible and must be prompted to stay on task almost constantly.  He is very smart but would drown without someone sitting next to him keeping him on task.  This relieves the burden on the teacher (and other students) so all benefit.

Bottom line is that a child is ENTITLED to be education in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)

Answer 2

There are various levels of each.

Mainstreaming can be two different ways. . .There is one where the varing ability child is placed with a general ed teacher and has no other support than the gen ed teacher.  The other is where they are placed in a gen ed setting and a Special Ed Teacher co-teaches the general ed teacher in that classrom.  The Spec Ed Teacher also helps the neuro typical ("normal") kids.  Sometimes in the mainstreaming though, a child can still end up in a resource roon to help with homeowrk, pt, ot, speach therapy ect.

Inclusion is just that. .Inclusion.  Children spend the majority of the day in a special ed setting.  Depending on the school sometimes they are placed in a intergrated class for things like Art, Gym or Music but often end up with a teacher assistant to give an extra hand to the main teacher.

IMHO as much as everyone fights for mainstreaming. . there are just some not ready for it.

Hope that helps

Answer 3

In our area as it relates to our LD son (6 years old):

We can send him to a private school for kids with LD, ADHD or other specal needs. Their goal is to work with these children, give them the tools they need and "mainstream" them back into the public school system. This may be an option for us next year. The plan would be for him to only atten the school for 2-3 years.

In the PS if the child has an IEP the Educational Specialist has 2 options in helping the child. One would be pull the child out of class and work with them alone or in small groups in an area (educational, speech, OT or etc.) Example, he is pulled out in 2 areas. One is to work on sight words and reading fulency. The other is Math. The EC teacher is working with him on ways to work around his LD.

Or when possible the EC teacher will work with the child or group acording to an inclusion model where the children are part of the class but the teacher gives the extra support where needed. Example, he gets a 3rd area of help daily as part of an inclusion modle. While the teacher is teaching the whole class writing the EC teacher is working with a small group that need the extra help in writing words, sentences and paragraphs.

Answer 4

Mainstream typically refers to a special ed student attending regular ed classes with regular ed teachers.

Inclusion typically refers to a special ed student in a classroom with two teachers - one regular ed and one special ed. Anyone gets help if they need it.

In either room, a special ed student can get accommodations and modifications listed in the IEP.