Mainstreaming in Schools on the Rise

Nowadays, you will find the mentally and physically challenged student in the same classroom with their peers much more often. This program in our schools is known as mainstreaming. Special education is still available, but the goal is for the majority of students and those with special needs to learn in the same classroom whenever possible. My goal here is to help parents understand the importance of mainstreaming.

In 1973, the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was passed. This act gives every child the right to education in the least restrictive environment. Students with medical and physical disabilities are protected, and given the right to a free public education. They may still receive special accommodations, but they do not receive special education unless they show the need. Mildly to moderate handicapped students began to be placed in a regular classroom, sometime only part time. It has been found that the student that has been mainstreamed into the regular classroom, and able to interact with their peers on the playground or in the hallways were able to build friendships and do better socially.

You will find several different levels of disabilities in the students that are mainstreamed into the classroom. Some disabilities are autism, deafness, blindness, mental retardation, speech impairment, orthotic impairment, etc. Most generally, the student with more severe disabilities is assigned a teacher's aide which assists the student while in the classroom with their work assignments. Some students may have different school work than his peers, depending on the child's level of cognizance. They may be working with shapes, colors, and texture while his peers are working on Math. At any rate, it is helpful to the child to be in a setting with other students to learn social skills.

Mainstreaming can be a rather controversial topic to some. Some feel that it opens the child to ridicule and criticism, while others feel it is helpful to the student and are more likely to be socially accepted by their peers. Mainstreaming gives the student the opportunity to become more independent and build confidence that is needed in today's society. Although not every student will benefit from mainstreaming, whenever possible it is best in order for the disabled student and the non-disabled student to be able to understand and appreciate each other in the classroom.

Some parents of the non-disabled student may feel as though the disabled student will be a distraction and interfere with their child's learning. The parent of the disabled child may fear their child being rejected. Whatever side you are on, it is important to be open minded. We need to teach our children that just because somebody may be different, they still have feelings and should be treated with respect. We as parents need to set examples for our children. Children do not learn prejudice on their own, they do repeat what they hear.

My children are elementary and middle school ages. In our small community, we have several children that are mainstreamed into the classroom. I have never had a negative report from any of my children about the disabled student being disruptive, or being out of control. I have seen some very positive outcomes from mainstreaming. One instance, my son had a peer in his classroom from kindergarten up to the 5th grade with severe Cerebral Palsy. One of my son's friends had a sleep over birthday party. The young man with Cerebral Palsy was invited as well. His parents were a little leery about letting him go. They eventually let him go and it turned out, he had a great time and all of the other boys helped him with everything he needed done. He did get upset at bedtime and began to cry, but the boys surrounded him and reassured him everything was okay and he finally fell asleep. So, you see, children can learn respect for the handicapped child, it doesn't alway have to be a negative experience.

I really feel that isolating children with a handicap from their peers into a special education classroom, rather than into the regular classroom, makes them more prone to discrimination. If children learn at an early age why "Billy" is different, they will be more socially open and understanding to our children with special needs. I have talked to my children repeatedly about the disabled children in our classrooms, I have taught them to respect them, be helpful to them. These children WILL be accepted by their peers if we as parents set an example for our children on respect and acceptance.