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The Uxbridge Public School District educates students identified as having a
disability in the general education classroom. According to the state laws,
children with disabilities have the right to learn in the least restrictive
environment. Inclusion is a familiar term used throughout Massachusetts. It is
based upon the idea that outside the school setting, people must interact with
others. They must learn to work with and accept people who are not like
themselves. Just as adults must learn to interact with one another, children
must also begin to accept diverse environments.
An inclusion classroom is committed to providing all children with the same
experiences and opportunities. Rather than moving the child with disabilities
from his or her familiar learning environment for services, the support would be
serviced in the classroom. The classroom teacher, the professionals involved in
the child's services, and the parents, would all be involved in creating a
pleasant atmosphere to best meet the needs of the child.
The following web sites clearly define inclusion and discuss issues of
inclusion, especially in the elementary classrooms. Click on the links below to
access the website information:
http://www.weac.org/resource/june96/speced.htm
This special education resource page defines inclusion, along with
mainstreaming, full inclusion, and the regular education initiative. It also
states the special education laws and what the state requires of the school
systems (IDEA, Section 504, and recent legal action). Includes inclusion
research and recommendations.
http://www.uni.edu/coe/inclusion/
Includes the philosophy of inclusion, legal requirements, and strategies of
inclusive teaching (cooperative teaching, preparation for inclusion for both
teachers and students, and a description of an inclusive classroom).
If you need assistance from the Uxbridge Public Schools Department of Pupil
Services, call 508-278-8648, Ext. 112 or e-mail:
pupilservices@uxbridgeschools.com
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