Preparing Students/Teachers/Schools/Parents for Inclusion
Here are some thoughts to keep in mind as a team of educators, parents, and perhaps the student work on a student's IEP and inclusion. Professionals may look at concerns in a different way from parents or people with disabilities. The left side of th is comparison chart shows how professionals may view the problems while people with disabilities and their families may approach the process with other concerns (right side of chart). It can help professionals to keep in mind both sides of the chart. (C hart courtesy of Chris Kliewer, University of Northern Iowa).
| Traditional Professional Concerns | Concerns of People with Disabilities and Their Families |
|---|---|
| Diagnosing origins of disability(medical) | Understanding origin of disability(social) |
Diagnosing needs for remediation
Physical |
Recognizing Strengths
Human |
| Appropriate Placement(School) | Participation(School) |
| IEP Development/Annual Review | IEP Development/Life dreams & goals
Friendships |
| Transition to Work(vocation) | Career |
| Appropriate Community Residence | Choice of Residence |
| Life Long Services | Life Long Support |
Prepared by the Renaissance Group