INCLUSION

The overarching goal of early intervention and special education is to enable children with special needs to fully participate in all the settings and environments enjoyed by those without special needs. This is a principle that reflected in special education law. Increasingly, parents and professionals in special education and related fields have come to expect full inclusion of all children.

Inclusion is “the process of integrating children with special needs into educational settings primarily designed to serve youngsters without disabilities” (Gargiulo & Kilgo, 2012).

FULL INCLUSION

Advocates for full inclusion define an inclusive school as “a place where everybody belongs, is accepted, supports, and is supported by his or her peers and other members of the school community in the course of having his or her educational needs met” (Stainback & Stainback, 1992 p.3)