by Kim Richards

Created on: September 19, 2009   Last Updated: September 20, 2009

In most species a mother will go to great lengths to raise and teach their offspring. Nurturing and protecting until there comes a time to say goodbye. Parents of course have the same instincts and provide an unwavering devotion to their children. A devotion at times resulting in actions believed to be in the best interest of their children, even though those actions may not benefit their child. Inclusion which has become the word for mainstreaming, the two have completely different meanings, has caused uproars for many years. There have been many lawsuits in regards to the benefits a special needs child receives when they are educated with peers in the regular curriculum. Some result in a yes there are benefits and of course some gain victory on the opposing side. Often there seems to be an us against them mentality, and the reason behind the lawsuit does not always reflect what is in the best interest of the child. In order to be beneficial one should ask the question, in what capacity is the inclusion being requested. Is it academic? Is it a social issue? What benefit do the others within the classroom, students and teachers, gain? The spectrum of special needs ranges from learning disabilities all the way to a profound disability. How will being in a regular classroom setting affect each person in the classroom including the student that has special needs?

Least Restrictive Environment or LRE is defined by IDEA to mean: To the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities... should be educated with children who are not disabled, and special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment should occur only when the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily. 20 U.S.C. 1412(a)(5)(B) (ERIC Identifier: ED469442 Publication Date: 2002-08-00 Author: Douvanis, Gus - Hulsey, David Source: ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education Arlington VA.) Another directive of IDEA is that a child receive a free and appropriate education (FAPE). Both mandates can be tricky when trying to find the correct setting for educating a special needs student. The key words here are appropriate placement. Appropriate does not mean everyone else's child is in a regular classroom setting so my child has a right to be in that classroom also.

Examine the first question, what will

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