Search Results for: blog the movement to inclusion

The Movement to Inclusion

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When I was in elementary school we all knew that the students taken out of the class each day were special education students. We knew that the students were going to receive extra help from the special teachers. We knew that those students were falling behind in class and did not do the “normal” work that we did. This was the assumption among the majority of the class. The children taken from my class were not necessarily physically or mentally handicapped. Some did not even have a learning disability. Some of the children simply struggled academically. However, all children “labeled” … Continue reading →

Spread the Word

As human beings, it is our job to protect each other and help each other. We are faced with that choice on a daily basis on both a large and small scale. We choose to yell at other drivers or we choose to smile and let the car next to us merge into traffic. We also choose to talk badly about our fellow humans or use inappropriate and hurtful language. Since 2009, the group Spread the Word to End the Word has been working worldwide to end the common use of the word “retard” to describe something someone thinks of … Continue reading →

Students with Special Needs Honored

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High schools across the country celebrate homecoming every fall. It is filled with football and dancing. Along with those traditions comes the crowing of homecoming queen and king. This year, in schools throughout the United States, students are electing their previously overlooked classmates, teens with special needs. The movement is a celebration of diversity and of the strength and resilience of these individuals. And it is making parents of all students extremely proud. In Texas, Gracie Kiltz who suffered brain damage during chemotherapy to treat leukemia when she was just two years old, was nominated homecoming queen to the delight … Continue reading →

Including Children with Disabilities

For decades children with disabilities have been placed in a separate classroom from “regular” students, making their disabilities rather than their abilities the focus. For the new generations this is all about to change, thanks in part to people like Dan Habib and his commitment to educating the public on inclusive education through his documentary, Including Samuel. Samuel, the younger of Habib’s two sons, has cerebral palsy. There is more to Samuel than his wheelchair. He is full of life, bright and funny. For the Habib family, it only made sense that Samuel be in the regular classroom. Luckily, their … Continue reading →

Brain Pacemaker for Parkinson’s Disease

A sort of pacemaker for the brain is showing promising results in testing on people with Parkinson’s disease. More than two hundred people with advanced Parkinson’s disease participated in testing, held at university and Veterans Affairs hospitals across the country. Some were treated only with medication; others were randomly assigned the surgery to implant electrodes that would stimulate the brain. (This “brain pacemaker” is also known as deep brain stimulation.) After six months, the patients who had the brain pacemaker experienced a dramatic reduction in tremors, limb rigidity, and movement restriction. Many reported a reduction or termination of nerve burning/tingling … Continue reading →

Washington D.C. Rethinks Special Education Program

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Meeting the needs of special education students seems to be a concern in just about every school district I come in contact with. Washington D.C. is no exception. The D.C. Council is in search of a new way to reconstruct its special education program. The cost of the special education program in Washington D.C. is depleting the education funds. D.C.’s special education budget is well out of range with that of the national average. The overall special education enrollment in Washington D.C. is only five percent higher than the national average of 15 percent, however the budget is much more … Continue reading →

Education Week in Review: June 23 – June 29

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Independence Day is peeking right around the corner. Along with it comes, fireworks, celebrations, hot weather, and nearing the beginning of a new school year. Summer keeps us busy with outdoor fun, vacations, and more. However do not forget to take a little time on these hot summer days to check out Families.com. Check below for a flash back of any articles that you missed this week. Saturday, June 23 Using Jazz in Our School Curriculum One university has decided to offer a special program for teachers. The program will help teachers make use of putting jazz into their curriculums. … Continue reading →

Mental Retardation – Criteria and Lingering Questions

I must admit, I hesitated to write this blog. Experience has shown that some parents are extremely sensitive to the use of the term “mental retardation” when describing their children. I absolutely understand this. There can be very negative connotations with those two words, especially when neuro-typical kids use “retard” as a playground slur. I considered calling the blog “Cognitive Disabilities” or “Cognitive Delays,” but all the current literature I ran across (as recent as 2006) still use “mental retardation” (MR) as the diagnostic term to describe intellectual ability that is significantly below average. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of … Continue reading →

Allstate Empowers Survivors of Domestic Violence

Domestic violence survivors came together last month to kick off a three-day conference designed to provide resources to saviors, share experiences, and gain empowerment. Domestic violence survivors from across the United States attended the three-day conference which focused on economic independence and cultivating personal leadership skills. The goal was to help survivors learn to share their message to victims still in need. Survivors of domestic violence may face serious financial roadblocks as a result of their abuse. It’s not unusual for survivors to have forced out of the workforce for periods of years. Victims were often unable to pursue education … Continue reading →