Introduction
Approximately eighty five percent (85%) of the students recognized as having disabilities also have learning disorders, mental retardation, communication problems, or expressive disabilities. A considerable ratio of students with higher-incidence disabilities are attended in the common education classroom. In several cases, causes of these high-incidence disabilities are generally unknown, even though diverse biological as well as environmental elucidations have been suggested. Learners with communiqué disorders may show problems linked to either verbal communication or language. Vocalizations problems may occur in form of voice, fluency disorder, or articulation; on the other hand language disorders may entail hardships with morphology, semantics, phonology, syntax, or practical of language use.
Students exhibiting learning disabilities are estimated to be half of learners with higher-incidence disabilities. These learners exhibit diverse but specific difficulties in fundamental skill areas including such spheres as language, memory, metacognition, and attention. Also learners with mental retardation may exhibit inadequacy in rational functioning, and matching degrees of adaptive behavior. This group of students does have a tendency to expose inadequacies in learning. These inadequacies may involve language, attention, social behavior, and problem solving. Equally, learners identified with behavioral disorders or extreme emotional disorders may as well present problems in classroom engagement, social ties, or may show disturbances linked to disorders of affect, like depression and anxiety.
Diverse adaptations in regard to physical environment, evaluation mechanisms, instructional procedures, and instructional resources can mould the general schooling to be an optimistic learning instance for learners with higher-incidence disabilities.
Learners with high-incidence disabilities have diverse issues that are extremely to their academic needs. The aim of this study is to provide insight into the issue(s) relevant to learners with high-incidence disabilities. More so, to describe inclusion models, as one of the key issue of importance to learners with high-incidence disabilities. This would include providing proposal or suggestions for efficient functions for enhancing learning for every learner when learners with high-incidence disabilities are incorporated in the typical learning environment.
Discussion
The inclusion is the accommodation of students with disabilities into the typical academic classroom. Established studies have shown that learners with high-incidence disabilities require specialized care within the general education provided. These include classroom settings, mode of providing instruction and how the instructions are executed. Will (2002) claims that the issue of inclusion has generated interest subsequent to the REI (Regular Education Initiative). The initiative offers powerful implications for providing education for learners with high-incidence disabilities among other students. Though, inclusion has over the time been a controversial issue among both special and general teachers. Most argue that student with high-incidence disabilities may not receive suitable services. Also there are those who argue inclusion may negatively affect the widespread education instructors including student with no disabilities within the academic environment. But Fuchs and Fuchs (2004) observes another group is recommending that both student with and without any form of disabilities be allowed to take part in educational settings, especially within their areas with the parental involvement in determining the apposite service.
Due to the nature of issues affecting learners with high-incidence disabilities the objectives for inclusion may include:
- Focus on the learner. Assisting learners with high-incidence disorders helps in making the learner develop self-worth as well as self-esteem. Therefore, available resources should be channeled towards enhancing this objective. A successful inclusion relies on this approach; it enhances the students understanding and makes them feel being cared for, as well as being a part of the academic community.
- Focus on compound intelligence. The conception of compound intelligence presents a substitute approach to consider the aptitudes and exceptional capabilities for each learner. Proficiency in music, creative arts, drama, sports and dance, for instance, ought to be emphasized in all learners.
- Adaptive program of study. Adapting as well as improving the curriculum for all learners should be an ongoing aspect of tutors tasks and responsibilities. And that is why inclusive schools are required to offer programs that meet the needs of the learners. The learners may include; those with limited language proficiency, talented learners but with disabilities, and common education learners.
Individuals as well as organizations supporting inclusion agree that learners with high-incidence disabilities in spite of the severity of their disorders should be allowed in the general academic classroom. They believe the social gains from inclusion for learners with disabilities are adequate objectives of placing them in conventional classroom. Even if the learners are performing substantially below other students. The purpose of this approach is, if the students require specialized attention, the services are obtainable in the general learning classroom. However, parents, guardians and experts have expressed concern over inclusion. They anticipate that a complete range of placement choices ought to be obtainable by all learners. The common classroom setting cannot sustain the requirements of every student with high-incidence disabilities (Irwin and Baker 2003).
Learners with high-incidence disabilities have a right to education and that is why inclusion is a relevant issue to their education. However, lack of apposite information pertaining to inclusion has generated negative reactions among the principal stakeholders. Numerous administrators, parents, teachers and politicians are unfamiliar with the purpose, meaning and implications of inclusion. Some parents and teachers seem to fear that normal children may act or ape the disabled learners, or equally model unethical behaviors. Examining and arguing about conscientious inclusion is imperative to dispel inaccuracies and falsehoods regarding educating all learners in a single setting. Focusing on consciousness issues, giving information as regards inclusion, and ongoing studies in this area will in due course result in better understanding the impacts of inclusion on learners with high-incidence disabilities.
Opposing opinions on Inclusion
As is with most social issues, a number of parents, teachers, researchers and administrators are concerned with the complete implementation of inclusion initiative (Woelfel 2005). The antagonists of this topic believe that ordinary tutors are not prepared to deal with instructive dynamics and multiplicity. And they seem to fear that participation of learners with high-incidence disabilities may affect the entire schooling system. They argue that teachers may consume too much time dealing with the learners with disabilities. While parents of high-achieving learners fear that their children may be exploited as peer teachers of learners with high-incidence disorders. On the other hand, there are teachers who are concerned of issues emergence repulsions in the classroom. While several administrators are troubled with the sum of funds required to uphold and sustain an inclusive classroom.
Recent studies have established that inclusion is an emotional aspect for a lot of people. And that is why one of the repeatedly asked questions is “Do inclusion mean each and every learner with high-incidence disability should be placed in general schooling? Fundamental to this concern is the concept of “place” where the scholar is educated. Supporters of inclusion lobby for all learners (despite of the degree of their disability) to be placed in the same class with their peers, in spite of the learners educational achievement or the special education requirement. Woelfel (2005) asserts that the objective of inclusion is not merely to place students with high-incidence disabilities in the general classroom, but to assess each learner on individual level to determine if the concerned student will gain from educational facilities available within the general education classroom. Hence, one placement choice may not suffice for the academic requirements of all learners. Even though all-encompassing classrooms may possibly have consummate benefits for some students, other academics may equally learn remarkably in pull-out basis or in controlled special education background. However, the liability lies with every academic establishment and the major stakeholders implicated in the learners placement to appraise both the strengths and limitations of each novice and consequently make the appropriate decision.
Difference between Inclusion and Mainstreaming
In most instances students with high-incidence disabilities are often caught between inclusion and mainstream education. Both issues are essential in as far as education for this group of students is concerned. However, the two issues are dissimilar both in context and implementation. It ought to be realized that when a scholar with high-incidence disorders is mainstreamed, his position is characteristically part-time in common education, as well as part-time in special schooling (Bos & Vaughn 2005). Inclusion arrangement students are not mandatory to leave their regular lessons for special tutoring; moderately the support flows to the learners. However, it would be paramount to understand that mainstreaming as well as inclusion are highly relevant issues to students with high-incidence disabilities. But inclusion is the least limiting environment and it meets the needs of the learners.
Teacher perception
Teachers have profound say when explaining the achievements and failures of inclusion. Each day they are in the forefront of this issue: discussing, struggling, grasping, and observing what is suitable and how it works. Commonly diverse ideas, interventions, and adaptations appear helpful in planning, but in the course of implementation they provide diverse challenges. Inclusion is predominantly an issue that is highly relevant to learners with high-incidence of disabilities. And if it is going to be effective, adequate maintenances and resources for teachers are needed. Although there are instructors who dispute that administrators and strategists advocating for inclusion are conventional out of touch with academic activities. Therefore policy strategists, administrators, and higher education personnel need to pay more attention to inclusion classroom. This would help them in devising new methods that are viable, productive, feasible and sustainable for teachers to effectively implement. Effective inclusion needs time to develop. This indicates why planning session for trainers or teachers are essential feature in adapting the curriculum to challenge students with high-incidence disabilities. By increasing class time with the students this provides teachers with an opening to share, collaborate and consult with them. And that is why it would be paramount for teachers to be involved when an inclusion model is being prepared.
This approach would help to avoid or provoke hostile feelings in teachers. In essence, lack of consultation can adversely compromise the value and quality of classroom activities. Noting that student with high-incidence disabilities are identified as difficult to handle, teachers have identified fear as one key issue that can hamper efficiency. Fear has been identified as a barrier affecting inclusion issues. Hence, teachers assert that; fear of obligation, responsibility, and extra burdens to ascertain that student with high-incidence disabilities are taught. The teacher view the scope of inclusion as imperative, however, training and or apposite skills are needed to deal with diverse challenges as well as providing secure academic environment for all students with and without high-incidence disabilities.
Students and inclusion
Established scholars have noted that students do provide helpful insight into the plans that assist them in learning. In a seamless analysis of elementary, middle, as well as advanced schooling student with high-incidence disabilities seemed to prefer teachers who are close to them. Regarding the integration of the students with high-incidence disabilities with the class work, most opted for text book adaptation. This shows that inclusion provided both students and teachers a common ground for establishing a positive learning environment. More so, different studies have shown students with high-incidence disabilities benefit from this arrangement considerably. This is testified by the fact that they are not differentiated from other students during homework assignments, and they collaborated with their peers in the class (Graves 2007).
The use of learning strategies is also identified as measure that benefited the students. And that is why most learners with high-incidence disabilities are encouraged to embrace the concept of inclusion. They do help them to develop and understand the activities learned in the class. Equally, other students without disabilities are not opposed to peer coaching as an adaptation plan to assist in learning. This is the gain of peers connecting to each other and making use of their personal words, insight, and impressions to help a classmate discover or grasp the subject taught.
Learning policies, schoolbook adaptations, peer teaching, grouping practices, and accommodating learning are all course of actions detailed by learners as having an optimistic effect on accepting, remembering, and on erudition material. Every part of these adaptations has significant propositions for inclusive classrooms given that acclimatizing the curriculum to meet the requirements of exceptional students is central to its accomplishment. Therefore, the issue of inclusion adaptations would benefit not only students with disabilities, but will optimistically sway all students.
Planning
Learning is paramount to both students with disabilities and those who are not. Therefore, the concept of inclusion is central to the learning requirements of those students with high-incidence disabilities. Exploring the diverse issues close to their academic needs, having reliable and responsible teacher is essential. This is due to the fact that both general and special education tutors have to be responsible in their teaching. Therefore, co-coaching in an inclusion classroom is a collaboration that requires tutors to plan and coach learners together. In order to help learners with high-incidence disabilities both trainers from the two distinct areas must channel their expertise in this model (Fuchs and Fuchs 2004).
For instance, special schooling tutors have the understanding as well as capability to acclimatize the curriculum and modify materials for students. More so, all-purpose trainers have deeper and reflective comprehension of curriculum as well as subject area. Therefore, a delicate balance must be maintained by both tutors. Also there are countless issues to be examined in advance in order to give the learners a model of collaboration and community aspects. Due to the elaborate needs of students with high-incidence disabilities; developing classroom rules, physical arrangement, grading mechanisms, disciplining procedures, and the tutors task during either whole class or small group teaching is essential. Also effective communication is paramount in providing seamless transition in inclusive class setting.
Pulling students with high-incidence disabilities calls for extra assistance, or specific skills. However, the concepts of inclusion have provided teachers with a classroom setting that is flexible and sustainable (Irwin and Baker 2003). That is why inclusion should be encouraged as a supportive aspect of teaching. Inclusive teaching acts as a source of direct instruction to the student and are essential in re-coaching of fundamental skills in manageable and supportive environment.
Responsible Inclusion
Responsible inclusion is a phrase engaged to refer to elemental orientation to the stipulation of educational necessities to learners with high-incidence disabilities in the regular classroom that is set for the edifying and social improvement of the learners. Therefore the objective of responsible inclusion is to place each and every scholar in the common academic classroom. Thus, with responsible inclusion the educational and social development of the student is persistently monitored. However, if the students with high-incidence disabilities are not making sufficient progress, substitutes may in some instances considered.
For that reason, with responsible inclusion the burden is principal to the learner, not to uphold the academic agendas or the convictions of the facility in the schooling establishment. Thus, the foremost precedence is the degree to which the learner with disabilities is making educational or social improvement in the common academic classroom. The continuing evaluation and scrutinizing of learner’s advancement is critical to the success. Also the aspects of resource provision are critical in maintaining as well as developing effective inclusion classrooms.
In order to support students with high-incidence disabilities the scope of inclusion is designed to provide models implemented at the school based level. Therefore, the models are for the purpose of assisting the students meet their academic needs.
Analysis
If students with high-incidence disabilities do not make satisfactory progress in the inclusion program, both the general and special academic tutors ought to address the following questions:
- How is the improvement the student is making dissimilar from previous ones?
- What was this student’s pace of progress for the previous session?
- Do the teachings, adaptations, as well as support reflect on the student’s explicit learning troubles as well as strengths?
- What critical changes have emerged that might assist in revealing change in the student’s enhancement pace?
- Is the lessons provided for the learner adequately concentrated and focused.
Placement of learners with high-incidence disabilities in general academic classrooms for the whole day have been shown to provide the benefit of consistent instructional plan with a small amount of interruptions. In conventional classroom many students with high-incidence disabilities are left unattended. However, the scope of having inclusive classrooms, many students with difficulties in such areas as reading would be supported through direct instruction focused on their problems.
Conclusion
Students with high-incidence disabilities have issues that hamper their academic and social growth. However, it would be decisive to employ the inclusion model in the manner they are taught. Inclusion is a relevant issue that has over the time been ignored. And this has resulted in many students with high-incidence disabilities being denied a chance to education. Placements in an inclusion setting have played an integral role in providing the student with ample time to be constructively involved in class activities.
The concept of inclusion would be paramount in improving overall educational engagements for students with high-incidence disabilities. The government and Non-Governmental organizations have over the time voiced over the concern of provision uncompromised education to the disadvantaged students. But rarely do the concerned authorities provide adequate resources to cater for the student with disabilities. Therefore the participation of learners within the inclusion programs is essential. This is due to the fact that the aim of inclusive education setting is to provide the learner with an academic opportunity.
Also inclusion strategies aims to ensure children with high-incidence disabilities are given an equal opportunity within the education sector. That is why inclusive classrooms acts as shields of protecting the learners and giving them the confidence of overcoming barriers correlated to disabilities. Hence, within the borders of inclusion students do receive the best tutoring both from the teachers and the fellow students. Therefore, the aspects of inclusion are fundamentally relevant to students with high-incidence of disabilities. This approach can be employed to reduce the rate of institutionalized discrimination as well as denial of opportunities in the community. Students with high-incidence disabilities have diverse challenges but an inclusive educational background could be of great value to their academic needs.
List of References
Bos, C. S., and S. Vaughn, (2005). Strategies for Teaching Students with Learning and Behavioral Problems. Needham: Allyn and Bacon.
Fuchs, D., and L. S. Fuchs, (2004). Inclusive School Movement and Radicalization of Special Education Reform. Exceptional Children 60, 4: 294–307.
Graves, D. H. (2007). Teachers and Children at Work. Portsmouth: Heinemann.
Irwin, J., and I. Baker, (2003). Promoting Active Reading Comprehension Strategies. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.
Will, M. (2002). “Educating Children with Learning Problems: a Shared Responsibility.” Exceptional Children 52: 411–415.
Woelfel, K. (2005). “Inclusion, Exclusion, Confusion, and Infusion.” Principal 73, 4: 49.