How might a child with special needs be a part of our school?

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A sense of belonging is important to everyone, especially for those who might not be able to say how it makes them feel. In addition, through learning about and caring for those who might have different skills, characteristics or needs, everyone benefits from an improved perspective on life and growth as a human being. The U.S. Congress, through a variety of laws, has mandated that every individual has the right to belong to and participate in the community in which he lives.

Meadows Elementary discontinued its Special Day Class in 1996, after reading the research on the benefits to the entire student body of full inclusion vs. special education classes. We made each student a member of a grade level classroom. Doing so has not only made our students with special needs integral parts of our student body and increased their learning exponentially, but also has benefited the general education population. They support, goof off with and stick up for students with special challenges. Over the past 12 years I have had no more than two complaints from general ed parents, but I cannot count the number of positive feedback interactions I have had with general ed parents, who celebrate the effects on their children of interacting with and supporting special ed students. At Meadows, we take a huge amount of pride in the fact that full inclusion has become embraced, institutionalized and unquestioned.

Connie Harrington
Principal, Meadows Elementary School, Manhattan Beach, Calif.

Information is helpful to understanding and being open minded about things that might operate differently from one's personal experiences or expectations. Many successful stories related to involving students formerly educated outside of the general education population have commonalities in that information sharing, teamwork and open conversation are integral components. Educators, school staff and general education parents all benefit from the perspective and understanding that can be provided by parents and experienced special educators

This section will include information on the basic legal rights of learners with special needs as well as some of the types of instructional methods that are used in teaching students with autism. This section will include:

• What is a child's right to a public education?
• What is free appropriate public education?
• What is least restrictive environment?
• What are special education services?
• What types of instructional methods are used in teaching students with autism?

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