In this article, the authors share their experience in taking care of their daughter, Elyse, who was in and out of the hospital when she was a child, battling numerous doctors' visits. Throughout the years, Elyse has taught their family about the importance of the human spirit and that they should appreciate others for who they are, no matter what…

Nineteen years ago, the author's family made the momentous decision to adopt a child from Romania. Daniela had been terribly neglected and was extremely delayed in her development. When she was five she was diagnosed as having an intellectual disability (ID). As a teenager, with the help of her family and great professionals, Daniela began to make…

Paraeducators are now recognized as important members of the learning and teaching team alongside teachers and other professional educators in schools. Other commonly used titles for paraeducators are Paraprofessional, Instructional Assistant, Educational Assistant, Teaching Assistant, Instructional Aide, and Aide. This article provides useful…

CLC Network is an organization that partners with churches, schools, and families to help promote and build inclusive and interdependent communities for those with disabilities. This article describes CLC Network's most recent tool--a book entitled the G.L.U.E. Training Manual. G.L.U.E. is an adhesive process to allow each individual to be firmly…

A majority of parents who have a child who is deaf are hearing and usually have had no experience with deafness. The impact on the parents can unequivocally alter their lives. The professional advice given to the parent regarding their child is often accepted as irrefutable fact, and can lead to the emotional, social, linguistic, and educational…

This article features Shakespeare with Heart, a two week inclusive summer program for middle and high school students with and without disabilities. The program runs each morning until noon, culminating with a workshop performance of a Shakespeare play with full costume and set with a live audience of parents, friends, and community members. The…

This article features Friends' Discovery Camp, a program that allows children with and without autism spectrum disorder to learn and play together. In Friends' Discovery Camp, campers take part in sensory-rich experiences, ranging from hands-on activities and performing arts to science experiments and stories teaching social skills. Now in its 7th…

As an occupational therapist running social play groups with sensory integration for children on the autism spectrum, the author frequently doubted the wisdom of combining several children on the spectrum into a group. In fact, as the owner of a clinic she said, "No more!" The groups seemed like a waste of parents' time and money, and she refused…

Many students "included" in general education today are accompanied by a paraprofessional, also known as a 1-to-1 aide, therapist, behavioral aide, or personal assistant. The use of a paraprofessional, particularly with children who have autism, mental retardation, deaf-blindness, or multiple disabilities has many merits, such as increased…

The author describes his experiences as the only physically disabled child in his elementary school and later as one disabled student among many in a special school. (CL)

The author, a college senior, with cerebral palsy, advocates integration of most physically handicapped children into regular classes on the basis of her own experiences in regular schools and classes. (DB)

Based on a case illustration told from the teacher's perspective, the article discusses some of the problems posed by the entrance of the mainstreamed disabled child into the regular classroom, focusing on teachers and students learning to cope with their own feelings about the handicapped. (DLS)

A parent recounts his Downs Syndrome son's integration into a regular Boy Scout troop and subsequent earning of the Eagle rank. His Eagle project involved speaking about his disability in local elementary, junior high, and senior high schools. Policies of the Boy and Girl Scout organizations concerning disabled members are summarized. (CB)

The development of effective community integration training programs for persons with severe handicaps is examined in terms of the human needs of severely disabled persons, the importance of comprehension and community-oriented training, emphasis on generalization, and consideration of individual preferences and interests. (CL)

The article responds to a parent's questions on an exceptional child's readiness for mainstreaming. Lists of information to be gathered, both before the individual planning conference and at the conference, are provided, including information on such areas as possible placements and educational goals of different programs. (PHR)