"Citizenship in School: Reconceptualizing Down Syndrome" By Kliewer

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In this article, Vvgotsky states that children who have special needs should be allowed to participate in a normal classroom setting, I completely agree with him.  There are many stories discussed throughout this article that show us some of the challenges special needs children face every single day of their lives.  One story that caught my eye was Anne, a girl with Down syndrome, and her dream of becoming a Hollywood director. She was left out of her high school transition conference and they decided that Anne would become a preschool aide.  Anne did not like the idea because she was not fond of young children.  I am glad that Shayne did something to help Anne out.  “Shayne realized this desire grew out of Anne’s love of movies and so took it upon herself to find a video rental store that would hire Anne” (78).  No one believed in Anne because she was “different”.  She proved everyone wrong and ended up doing a great job.  It makes me sick that there are companies who will not work with or hire the disabled because they feel that these people will not be able to handle the job, like Anne.  I found an article online that discusses Disability Discrimination and the Law.  Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990.  “ADA’s purpose is to prevent discrimination against people with disabilities in the workforce-- as well as in most businesses and other places open to the public-- by requiring that ‘reasonable accommodations’ be made for many types of disability”.  ADA applies to employers who are fifteen or older for a minimum of at last twenty weeks.  I am glad Congress passed this law because it is unlawful for companies to discriminate against people with special needs.  Many of them could be qualified for a job, but because they have a disability they are not wanted.  Now, the ADA helps these people get a job.  Please take a look at this article, I found it to be insightful. 

During my junior year of high school, I took culinary arts as my elective.  We were split up into four different groups when we cooked.  There were two special needs kids in my classroom and there was always a teacher with them, she helped them with everything.  They were placed in my group and at first I admit I was skeptical, I was afraid something could go horribly wrong.  But as the semester went on I realized that these children were capable of doing anything.  They were just like me; they just needed a little extra help.  I also bowl with a Down syndrome man every Saturday at East Providence Lanes.  He is twenty-one years old and he is the sweetest man you could ever meet.  He gets so excited when he gets a strike or a spare.  He always gives me a high five and I do the same to him.  I have trouble understanding him sometimes, but I always encourage him to do his best.  People with special needs are no different than you or me, they are capable of anything, it might just take them longer to accomplish something than it would for someone who does not have a disability.  Special needs students should be allowed in regular schools and classes because it helps other students accept them and it makes the special needs students feel like they belong.

Here is another article I found on Teaching Special Needs Students In the Regular Classroom.  This article states that all special-needs students are capable of success and they need to be given a great deal of encouragement.  Another article, Do children with special needs belong in mainstream classrooms?  I believe they do because they are just like regular students, they are going to school to get a good education.   

Question:

Do you believe children with disabilities or special needs belong in regular classrooms? Why or why not?

Down Syndrome: Should you send your child to a mainstream or special needs school?