Integrating Students with Exceptionalities Essay -- Education

The delivery of education for students with exceptionalities has evolved from complete segregation to the provision of education within regular classes (Andrews & Lupart, 2000). Integration will be successful if the necessary supports and services are in place within the education system. Regrettably, the public special education system currently in use in Ontario is not meeting the needs of integrating students with exceptionalities in regular class settings. Even now, many educators believe that segregation of students with disabilities is justified and not prejudiced (Valeo, 2009). To abolish segregation from the Ontario public school system there is a definite need for strategies. Although there are challenges, there are numerous methods to promote inclusion through integration of exceptional students to include them in standard curriculum classrooms. One of the challenges that Ontario school professionals face is the amalgamation of regular and special education. This integrated system values, supports individual differences, and works in response to the various strengths, challenges, and experiences of all students. (Andrews & Lupart, 2000). The most debated issue for school professionals and advocates is whether a unified system provides students with better opportunities to learn. The reason for this debate is that school professional question if this type of system will diminish options for exceptional students to receive the individually adapted instruction them (Boscardin, 2005). The goal of inclusion through integration is to make available instructional strategies that effectively produce acceptable educational results for exceptional students, and can be implemented in a manner promoting inclusion. Educators must a... .... (2000). The Inclusive Classroom: Educating Exceptional Children. Scarborough: Nelson Thomson Learning. Boscardin, M. L. (2005). The administrative role in transforming secondary schools to support inclusive evedence based practices (Vol. 33). American Secondary Education. Dixon, S. (2005). Inclusion - Not Segregation or Integration Is Where a Student with Special Needs Belonds. The Journal of Educational Thought, 33-53. Harpell, J. V., & Andrews, J. (2010). Administrative Leadership in the Age of Inclusion: Promoting Best Practices and Teacher Empowerment. The Journal of Educational Thought, 189-210. Tomlinson, C. (2001). How to differentiate instruction in mixed ability classrooms . Alexandria: Association for Supervision and Curriculum. Valeo, A. (2009). Education’s enduring prejudices: disability at the door. Dordrecht: Springer Science+Business Media B.V.