Kids with disabilities in mainstream classes

[LuluHB]

DD2 has a little girl in her class that has obvious intellectual disabilities and at a guess I would say Down's. She has a full time care assistant with her, doesn't seem to have any speech at all but otherwise seems to just get on and do everything that the other kids do. What's great is that the kids at the age of 3.5 odd are learning to sign in her special little language so that they can communicate with her. I am so proud of them all that they pretty much all seem to make an effort and there is nothing but kindness shown to this little girl, and she looks so relaxed and happy to be as normal as she can possibly be.

DD1 has a boy in her class who has cystic fibrosis. He very obviously can't keep up running around at recess and lunch with the other kids and we have all been asked that the second our kids develop any sort of sniffle or cough that we inform the school so his parents can make the decision as to whether or not to pull him from class .

I wonder what's going to happen to these little kids though as they grow older and the other kids stop being as sweet and accommodating as they are now and turn into, well, kids with all their abilities for viscious truth and sometimes nastiness. I wonder what's going to happen to the little boy with CF who is obviously going to miss an enormous amount of school through his own health issues as well as just to avoid whatever bug the other kids have. I think its brilliant that the kids are in mainstream classes now, and I just hope the school has the capabilities to ensure it can continue for as long as possible.

I don't really know what the point of this post is but its been going round in my head all night after something not so nice that I saw yesterday at the shops. I worry for how these poor kids are going to get on in life, and I'm just so grateful that my kids are healthy.

[glenny_c]

As a teacher, I think it is great that these kids are given the opportunities to interact with their "mainstream" counterparts. However, I don't think it's always for the best. Often, children with severe disabilities are better catered for in special schools. They get more attention and the curriculum is designed for them personally. In a mainstream primary school, often these kids are expected to keep up. I think it's a shame that this is the case but as a teacher, with 28-10 other children in your care, often it is difficult to cater for special needs properly, and give them the attention that they deserve. Mainstream primary teachers are often not trained in working with special needs either.

I am in no way saying that we should go back to the dark ages where kids were locked away and not spoken about but I think that in some cases, mainstream education just isn't the right path to follow. I have seen too many times where parents are pushing mainstream education on their children through their own denial rather than the child's true best interests. I have no knowledge of the kids you're talking about, and mainstream may indeed be working brilliantly for them. It just doesn't for everyone.

[RockingBaker]

Mainstream education is the goal. My son is disabled and we are doing early intervention to get him ready for mainstream school (or as we call it school). As an adult he will have to live in society and function with other people and the best way to learn is to be around other kids now. He may miss out on some days because he can't cope and they other kids may learn some basic makaton but my boy is giving other people the opportunity to broaden their horizons and learn about others. Special school is a last resort and I know of very few options in my region personally. When my DS is prep age he has to go to a state school as there is no other option.

[Traveller]

This is something I was worried about when I was told that boytwin was deaf. As much as I would have wanted him to go to school with my other children we also gave serious consideration to schools for the deaf. My feeling was that school years help children gain friendships and confidence that will see them through their entire life. Also children learn better when they are happy and feel accepted, and that knowledge once learnt will not be unlearnt at uni or in the workplace. As it happened our diagnosis was wrong and therefore it was a moot point but I doubt I would be fighting to have a child with a major disability accepted at a mainstream school because of fear of them being singled out/picked on or ignored once the kids became older and the differences became more transparent.

[meow]

Inclusive education is a two-way street. The hope is that with early exposure to people with varying abilities children will learn that the only 'normal' is difference. I would hope that this would be supported in the home and by the time children are older the idea of teasing other people based upon their abilities would be the furthest things from their minds.

Perhaps you can look at the what you can gain from these children, rather than the burdens you have to suffer.

[Traveller]

Perhaps you can look at the what you can gain from these children, rather than the burdens you have to suffer.

with respect, nobody has said anything about disabled children being a burden. Quite the opposite, those of us who has said we would not mainstream a disabled child have said so because we want all children to get the attention and support they deserve during their schooling.

[meow]

You're right. I think I misread the comment about the school having the capabilities because my blood was boiling too much.

[MummyNaomi]

My Nephew goes to a special school (intellectual disability) and I know my BIL and SIL weighed up lots of things when deciding his schooling as he could have gone to the same private school as his older brother. In the end they found a special school that suited nephews needs perfectly, and as they were also worried about other kids teasing the older brother because his brother was 'special', they felt it was the right decision for the whole family. My nephew is doing fantastically at his school.

[LuluHB]

Meow you have completely misunderstood. I absolutely don't think these kids are a burden at all. In fact, DH and I were commenting on the fact that while its dreadful to think these kids' lives will be harder than they should ever have to be, it is a great life lesson for the other kids to learn acceptance, respect and empathy for others, and hopefully to learn that every person needs to be accepted for who they are. We all have flaws - just most of us are lucky enough to still be accepted as "normal". My own daughter is on the border of being classed as special needs so there's no way I'm anything other than supportive. My concern is for these two particular children, not for my kids at all. Like I said in my op, my concern is how things can be done to continue to make the experience of mainstream classes as beneficial as possible. Glenny has a valid point too in that teachers are already stretched a long way, and there is no denying that in later years a child who has learning issues is going to be more taxing on resources. Its a very difficult situation all around. Money and resources sadly only go so far.

I do teach my children to accept others for who and what they are, whether that be a fat person, an intellectually or physically disabled person, a black person, a buddhist, whatever. But that's me and my belief system and I'm not naive enough to think that everybody shares that belief system. You just need to take a look around and know that tolerance of others is not a widely held view, or at least not held with anything beyond lip service. It would break my heart to see either of these kids teased or picked on. I can't even begin to imagine what a worry it must be for their own parents.

[meow]

Look, I don't want to pick your post to shreds and say all the bits that bother me but simply, you seem surprised that anyone would want to be around these children and you seem to have a very "us and them" viewpoint. It's not all sunshine and rainbows that these children are included in the class... it's a right, not a privilege. Worrying over future bullying just invites it as far as I'm concerned. And what on earth is with the parting comment that you're grateful your children are healthy?? After the discussion of these other children and their terrible fates it's really distasteful.

[Freya]

Having a child with a disability (autism); this is something thats been weighing on my mind recently with him starting primary school next year.

If our son were any further along the spectrum we would definately have utilised the specialised school they have up here for children with Autism etc. We are lucky enough though that he was diagnosed early and at this point in time should be able to intergrate into mainstream school with minimal problems. He will still have a personal aide as well as the teachers aide already in the classroom.
I do worry about how he will be received but the private school our children do/will attend have a fair few special needs kids ranging from high functioning autism to children who are deaf, in wheelchairs, missing limbs etc. They seem to have one of the most tolerant school communities Ive seen so it definately alleviates my fear a little. Im not worried about our eldest son being teased for having a brother with special needs, he knows Ripley is different and sometimes can be a little bit unusual but thats ok because no one is the same and we should love people for their differences. If anything I think it will benefit Ripley having siblings attend the same school, so he has someone to lean on should he need it.

I definately think maybe people should talk more to their children about these issues. I try to do it with mine, especially because at this point in time Ripley is still largely unaware he has special needs but eventually with going to school he will become aware of it and I would want him to remember the talks we've had about people being different and that its perfectly ok. The one thing Ive learnt is that ridicule for people who arent "normal" is a learnt behaviour in children; all our friends kids who have known Ripley forever wouldnt even recognise that he has special needs, he is just 'Ripley' to them. Same goes for his brothers. Its only when we make it a big issue that it becomes an issue.

[AliBaby]

I have a lot to say about this from the view point of a teacher who has taught a child with down syndrome, a severely autistic child, other children who were mildly autistic, ADHD, ODD & a child who was blind.

I need to come back later when I can put the time and effort into the post but in answer to the initial post, you would be amazed at the kindness shown to these students as they get older. I cried at the end of last year at presentation day for my class because I was so humbled by the kindness shown by my class and how much they tolerated when a severely autistic child came into our class for Semester 2. He had never been in a mainstream school and is no longer in one now as it just didnt work for him.

Also never rely on getting full time support from the DET. FOr the student with Down Syndrome I taught, she had 12 hours a week and with the severely autistic boy, I could only have him until 12pm as he needed a full tiem aid and I couldnt have anymore than 3 hours a day. There was no way I could cope as a teacher (to teach and for the safety of every single person in the classroom) so he had to get picked up when the aid left.

But it is absolutely amazing how accepting students are of integrated students.

[Sunny Love]

Its all good until they reach a 'higher grade' here in WA, and then the GOVT can't 'afford' to give them the one-on-one that is needed to keep them succesfully in mainstream, they then become left out/isolated and sometimes targets for other kids. Its terrible. Im in Early Childhood teaching, and i've watched kids that i've taugfht in years 2/3 go into years 4/5and be left eduactionally, the regression that usually occurs without this CONSISTENT assistance is so sad, it makes the early years a waste of time almost

[Traveller]

Meow I really think you have misinterpreted LuluHB's postings here. As I read her posts she has expressed a wish to see all children integrated together in school, but has some concerns as to how long this can happen because of those children (not her own) who are raised to ridicule differences and also because of resources to ensure all children get a fair amount of attention and help in school.

As to the point of being happy her own children are healthy, I think this is just a really honest declaration and not aimed at anyone else. I know it is a feeling I share too. I am grateful every day my children are healthy and not because I would love them less if they were not, but because I know first hand how distressing it is to have an ill or disabled child. I have seen my son stared at by parents and children because he was different (when all he had were hearing aids) and I have heard the whispers. That was just as a baby. So yes I am grateful my children are now healthy and I'm sure this is all LuluHB means too.

[LuluHB]

Thanks Traveller.

Meow - I don't have anything like an us and them attitude. I don't think for a second I have suggested these children shouldn't be in a mainstream school. What I said was how fantastic it is that they are, that their particular needs are being met and that they seemed to be thriving. As for being grateful my children are healthy - of course I am. Who wouldn't be. Your suggestion that its distasteful to say such a thing is a bit like me saying how grateful if am that I'm pregnant now with a baby who has the odds well and truly on her side of making it after telling you that I've had seven losses. If you read my post again you will also see that one of my children is borderline special needs. So trust me when I tell you that I KNOW its not all "sunshine and rainbows". My DD could well be one of those children that ends up being bullied for her differences. I also spent 12 years of my life working with disabled kids on a volunteer basis and it makes me furious how many things they can't do simply because of funding - nothing to do with their capabilities.

Alibaby - that is fantastic to hear that the kids are so supportive but unfortunately I'm not surprised to hear you say that there wasn't enough funding for full time support.

Sunny - that is what I can see happening with these kids too. Its a no win situation - I think the mainstreaming is fantastic if that's what their parents/carers believe is in their best interests but it must be heartbreaking for them if they are then removed from the school in later years due to educational requirements, resources etc.

[christy]

My DD1 is a high functioning autistic child. She goes to an alternative school in which she is the only child with special needs. However, at her school you wouldn't know she has special needs, or that she is autistic at first look. She's totally integrated, however, if we went to the local school she would probably be put in a "special needs" class with children at different intellectual levels. DD1 has a high IQ but has communication and social issues that block her ability when in large groups. I know that at the moment she couldn't do it. But where she is, it is perfect for her. The school is an alternative to home-schooling and has 15 students in K-6 grade in the one class room. With DD2 she could go anywhere but we have her at the same school to her sister. As my DD1 grows older through her school and our other therapies she's growing in social awareness and emotionally. I think in the next few years we could probably send her to an integrated school, not that I'd want too.

I find the connection with kids with special needs is hard because not all of the kids with special needs NEED special treatment, someone with CF has a physical condition, my cousin has CF and she had to endure a lot more, but did fine in school... it was probably grades 11 and 12 that were the hardest for her, she went onto uni... and when she was 30 had a full double lung transplant...

I wonder where we draw the line? I mean most schools don't allow peanut products now, but we don't consider a peanut allergy a "special need". I just think that often times we as families get frustrated with the term... often times we all get lumped together when its not the same. If you meet one child with autism, you've met one child with autism, they are all different. Same with intellectual disabilities.... or even CF... sure there are some similarities, but often not at all the same. Sorry this is my rant but I really dislike being lumped together.

I recently had someone lecture me because I said my daughter was autistic, he said "no you can't say that, you must say she has autism...." and went onto say that I mustn't label her, but in all honesty my daughter is autistic. She's not a burden, we have a different lifestyle that those without it, but we don't know any different either. Its our life, just like yours is your life.... I would never say that we have a bad life. Yes its been difficult and yes hard as well, but maybe it would have been anyway?? I don't know any different, neither does the rest of my family.

[christy]

Sorry I guess I am kinda explaining how parents of children with "special needs" react... I'm not upset by the OP or the responses, but I guess its hard when you are in the midst of life to face things that do hurt sometimes... I also understand where meow is coming from. So while the OP didn't say things, its something we as parent's face all the time... and it can wear you down. xoxox

[chody47]

I am a teacher of students with special needs. My class is within a mainstream school and we try to integrate the kids in my class into their mainstream 'buddy' class where appropriate. We also have a number of students with special needs in mainstream classes full time.

I guess what surprises me here is that some of these students that have been mentioned in posts above are able to have full time SSO's (carers) allocated just to them within the mainstream. What state(s) is this happening in? In SA, the maximum hours a student with special needs can get within a mainstream class is 5 hours a week. As you can tell this is ridiculously low, which means that the waiting list for students trying to get into special classes is enormous as many of these kids aren't properly catered from within the mainstream (and that's nothing negative against their teachers, they do their best, but 5 hours a week....?????)