Graduate Research Papers

Availability

Open Access Graduate Research Paper

Keywords

Inclusive education; Mainstreaming in education;

Abstract

This study was done in an effort to identify hidden perspectives and attitudes held by parents, students, and teachers that may create a barrier to successful inclusion of students with special needs into education programs at one middle school. Surveys were distributed to randomly selected parents of special education students, parents of regular education students, special education students, regular education students, special education teachers, and regular education teachers at an intermediate school in Iowa. Results of the surveys were used to determine each group's positive and negative attitudes toward inclusion. The results of this study indicate that overall perspectives and attitudes about inclusive practices for special needs students were are positive. However, certain barriers prevented inclusion from being fully welcomed. Barriers included a lack of collaboration time for teachers, a lack of training in serving special needs students, and a lack of willingness to accept change. These barriers were addressed in this paper within seven recommendations to include such changes as adopting the 12 characteristics of a successful inclusive school, allowing time for collaboration, and providing the proper inclusive training for teachers and staff.

Year of Submission

2006

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Education

Department

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Department

Division of Middle Level Education

First Advisor

Donna Schumacher-Douglas

Second Advisor

Christopher Kliewer

Comments

If you are the rightful copyright holder of this graduate research paper and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit a request to scholarworks@uni.edu and include clear identification of the work, preferably with the URL.

Date Original

2006

Object Description

1 PDF file (71 leaves)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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