Diverse Abilities Inclusive Practices

Inclusion

Introduction

Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder. Those diagnosed with autism have marked impairments in reciprocal social interaction and communication, as well as restrictive and repetitive interests or behaviors. The manifestations of autism vary depending on the age and level of development of the individual (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). In the past 20 years, the prevalence of autism has increased dramatically. In the 1980s, there were approximately 1 in 2,500 people diagnosed with autism. In 2007, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (2007) found that 1 in 150 children in the United States are diagnosed with autism. According to the Autism Society of America (2009), there are about 1.5 million Americans who have some form of autism. The Autism Society of America also predicts that this number could increase to 4 million over the next 10 years. The exact cause of autism is unknown, and there is no known cure. The stress placed on families when a child is diagnosed with autism can be devastating. With the number of children diagnosed with autism increasing each year, it is imperative for social workers to have the knowledge, understanding, and ability to support these families. The Autism is the selected disease that needs special education with inclusion.

The development of the concept of people with Special education is very recent. It covers a wide diversification of the student population ranging from different disabilities like physical, sensory, mental, learning difficulties or adaptation; gifted children, sick children, `children in difficult family or social situation, and children in prison. In this study, we try to explore the concept of Special education it history, challenges, current practices, technology, and issues related to it.

There are certain children who may have some disabilities, hindering them for receiving the normal education which can be expected for a normal child. These challenged children can be entitled to Special Education completely free of charge to public schools. Parents can be better advocates for their children if they know how to access these services, allowing their children to receive the individualized attention they may require to insure a decent education. Special Education has become significant in the schooling children. There are several improvements in the field of other education. Special Education needs far more improvements and considerations in order to provide best available options to special children (Richards, 2010).

Inclusion

The concept of inclusion is usually discussed in relation with Special Education Needs (SEN) of the people, but in reality, it has a wider scope. It has a theoretical concept of pedagogy which refers to how the school should respond to the diversity. The basic assumption that this term involves is the changes in the school system that respond to the needs of all students, instead of having students who must adapt to the system, integrating it. The conscious and deliberate choice by the heterogeneity in the school is one of the dominant pillars of an inclusive approach (Avramidis, 2010).

Inclusion is one of strategies to manage the behavior of special ...