The view of the faculty is that all students, including those with the most significant disabilities, should participate in the general education curriculum. What changes is how instruction is designed for students and the types of supports they are provided. When supports are in place, there are many benefits worth considering. When youngsters who have learning problems are included, students without disabilities often do better academically. A teacher is more apt to break instruction into finer parts or repeat directions if he or she has a youngster in the room who deals with deafness, blindness, or a developmental disability.
Children learn to accept individual differences.
The best way to help children overcome their misconceptions about kids who have disabilities is to bring them together in integrated settings. Children develop new friendships. Children with disabilities who are included in regular education develop friendships in their home communities. Parent participation improves. When children with disabilities are integrated into local schools, parents have more opportunity to participate in that school and in the community where the school is located.