Possibly one of the most beneficial teaching methods for a student with disabilities, is to include them in normal activities. Students that qualify may be allowed to learn and participate in class amongst their non-disabled peers to help them feel equally valuable. In most cases, an Inclusion Specialist is hired to assist the student in classroom instruction and activities.
An Inclusion Specialist is a certified teacher who specializes in students who have developmental or physical disabilities but who are familiar with procedures and techniques to assist a child within the classroom. They work closely with general education teachers to devise a lesson plan that is suitable for the disabled student. In some cases, the general teacher’s lesson plan for their students is then adapted by the Inclusion Specialist with a new focus to fit the disabled student’s needs. For some children with disabilities, they may only need an assistant for certain projects or subjects, therefore the Inclusive Specialist may not be needed every day.
With your online Bachelor’s degree in Special Education, your training will allow you to participate in a part-time or full-time classroom setting, depending on your student’s needs. In addition, you will be given the authority to maintain positive classroom behavior, as well as, being aware of any behavior problems that your student may provoke. As an Inclusion Specialist within the area of Special Education, you will have extra responsibilities such as frequent parent, administration and counselor conferences to discuss and assess progress. Assessment tests must be given on a regular basis to determine additional needs or services. The laws and regulations of the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act must be adhered to always and possible violations must be reported. At times, you may be asked to evaluate other students who may show signs of a learning disability. If necessary, you would be responsible for submitting a plan of care and other paperwork needed to enroll them in an inclusion classroom program, as well.
The inclusive classroom provides the disabled student with many benefits. They learn from non-disabled students how to behave, or perhaps how not to behave, and have opportunities to participate in school sports, dances and student government activities. Through non-disabled friends, they learn acceptable social skills and forge life-long relationships.
As disabled students learn from non-disabled, the opposite is also true. Having the disabled in a combined classroom with others teaches them patience and compassion for their classmate. Your online Bachelor’s degree in Special Education will assist you in learning the best ways to teach all students how to treat disabled students with the respect and consideration that they deserve. In today’s society, it is important that we all learn the importance of accepting each other. The inclusion classroom allows the recognition of each student’s value and more often than not, the non-disabled student will benefit as much, if not more, than the disabled.
If you are interested in this area of concentration, then see our list of the Top 20 Bachelor’s in Special Education Degree Programs.