Over two decades ago United States Federal law mandated that children with disabilities be afforded an education in the least restrictive environment. This did two things. This later concept is called mainstreaming. U.S. Scouting has, and continues to have, units which are school or institutionally based which bring Scouting to groups of youth isolated because of their disabling conditions. But Scouting encourages units to embrace all within mainstream units.
All youth are unique.
Each bring different strengths and gifts to the unit. Each learn from one another, irrespective of their own strengths or gifts. Scouting should be a microcosm of that idealized society we strive for as part of our developmental goals. This is one of a series of brief reviews of U.S. Scouting publications which provide support, guidance, and direction to units and leaders in the belief that Scouting and Scouts gain from inclusion. The antecedents for many of these publications date to the mid-1970s.