Nate, Rebecca, Gurtej and Leah love being in a class that has two teachers. The fourth graders at Bartle Elementary School in Highland Park, New Jersey, are taught by Karen Cox, a special education teacher, and Jane Franchak, a regular education teacher. While one teaches, the other moves from desk to desk answering questions. Throughout the day, Mrs. Cox brings some students to a separate area of the room for extra help.
"It's fun on both sides of the room," says Nate, 10, who gets help from Mrs. Cox. Rebecca works on reading and writing with Mrs. Cox. The two areas and two teachers are part of the school's "inclusion" program. It enables children with disabilities to learn side by side with other kids.
Inclusion is a growing movement in American schools. "It's good for all children, not just children with disabilities," explains Rod Paige, the Secretary of Education. "Inclusive schools really ensure that no child is left behind." According to the Department of Education, about 1 out of 11 kids in U.S. schools have a disability. About 3% of these kids have physical disabilities, including problems hearing, seeing or walking, and 19% have speech and language problems. Other kids have disabilities that affect their behavior or thinking. Most common are learning disabilities.
In the past, millions of kids with significant disabilities were unable to attend regular classes. But in 1975, Congress passed a law that said children with disabilities must be given an equal opportunity to learn in "the least restrictive environment." For most kids, that means being a part of a regular classroom. A 1997 law put additional pressure on public schools to open their doors to children with disabilities.
Classrooms for All
Many educators believe inclusion has advantages for all children. "It's the best of both worlds," says Mrs. Cox. "I can provide support for students with disabilities and for other students who need help."
Maurine enjoys her inclusion class at Somerset Elementary in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Maurine, 8, has Down syndrome, one of the most common genetic causes of mental retardation. She has an aide who helps her in the classroom. After four years in inclusion classes, Maurine's language and social skills have improved. "Maurine often doesn't eat lunch because she spends so much time talking to her friends!" says her mom.
To make inclusion work, schools need to help kids learn to respect each other's differences. Paige, Becca and Tesia are doing just that at B.R. Miller Middle School in Marshalltown, Iowa. Their school offers activities to help kids get along.
"It's not fair to pick on kids with disabilities just because they're different," says Paige. "If we were all alike, the world would be very, very boring." Becca is glad that Tesia, who has Down syndrome, is in her school. "Her smiles and hugs always make my days better," says Becca.
But an inclusion class can be challenging for teachers. Damon Lamb, a psychologist at Miller, notes, "It's tough to work with students of different levels in the same class." Teachers must spend extra time planning lessons, and the costs for the school can be higher.
At Bartle, Gurtej, 9, is sure that the costs to make his class work are worthwhile. "Sometimes we all learn different things, but it runs smoothly," he says. "It's one big classmate family."
How You Can Help
"Kids have real power to make an immediate difference in the lives of children with disabilities," says Maria Shriver. Shriver is an NBC News journalist and author of the new bestseller What's Wrong With Timmy? The book is about an 8-year-old girl who befriends a boy who is mentally retarded. Shriver also works with the Special Olympics, a sports program for people who are mentally retarded. Here are Shriver's tips for how you can help kids with disabilities.
Learn about disabilities. Ask your teacher or guidance counselor if you can stay after school to talk about different kinds of disabilities. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Asking questions about a disability will help you understand what it is and what it is not. Read books that explain what it means to have a disability.
Say "Hello." Have the courage to walk up to a child who is disabled and introduce yourself. Invite him or her to join your activity. You will be surprised by how much you have in common.
Watch your words. Don't call kids with disabilities names that are hurtful. When you see other kids making fun of children with disabilities tell them, "That's mean. Stop it!"
Volunteer. Talk to your teacher about becoming "reading buddies" with a child who needs help. Get involved with groups that help kids with disabilities.