Why Students with Severe Disabilities Are Not Being Placed in General Education Classrooms: Using the Frame of a Basic Change Model to Expand the Discussion

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-68
Author(s):  
Terri Vandercook ◽  
Debbie Taub ◽  
Tayler Loiselle ◽  
Amanda Shopa
Keyword(s):  
General Education ◽  
Systemic Change ◽  
Systems Change ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Educational Practices ◽  
Change Model ◽  
Basic Change ◽  
Placement Decisions ◽  
Students With Severe Disabilities ◽  
General Education Classrooms

This article addresses particular aspects of the Agran et al. identified determinants related to inclusive educational practices for students with severe disabilities. More specifically, this article focuses on perceptions of competency in students with severe disabilities and the resulting placement decisions, as well as facilitating systemic change to build inclusive systems. The discussion focuses on how the determinant related to perceptions of competency and the four elements of systems change identified by Agran et al. play a part in the ongoing lack of inclusion for these students. This response uses the frame of a basic change model to further the discussion on the important question of why students with severe disabilities are not being placed in general education classrooms.

Addressing the General Education Curriculum in General Education Settings with Students with Severe Disabilities

2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 155-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah L. Ballard ◽  
Stacy K. Dymond
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
General Education ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Education Curriculum ◽  
General Education Curriculum ◽  
Students With Severe Disabilities ◽  
General Education Classrooms

This systematic literature review examined research on stakeholders’ beliefs about addressing the general education curriculum in general education classrooms with students with severe disabilities (SD). The investigation was limited to studies published in peer-reviewed journals between 1997 and 2015. Ten articles were identified and then analyzed using an inductive coding approach and thematic analysis. Secondary data analysis revealed four major themes centered on (a) method of access, (b) type of curriculum, (c) barriers/concerns, and (d) benefits. Overall, stakeholders were found to perceive social inclusion as more important than involvement and progress in the general education curriculum for students with SD. Stakeholders also perceived numerous challenges around facilitating access to the general education curriculum in general education classrooms.

Why Aren’t Students with Severe Disabilities Being Placed in General Education Classrooms: Examining the Relations Among Classroom Placement, Learner Outcomes, and Other Factors

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Agran ◽  
Lewis Jackson ◽  
Jennifer A. Kurth ◽  
Diane Ryndak ◽  
Kristin Burnette ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Education ◽  
National Level ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Federally Funded ◽  
Learner Outcomes ◽  
Placement Decisions ◽  
Classroom Placement ◽  
Delivery Options ◽  
Students With Severe Disabilities

Placement decisions for students with severe disabilities have often been based less on the students’ unique learning needs but more on beliefs and presumptions about student learning, entrenched school district policies that restrict program delivery options, and other variables unrelated to student needs. In light of the benefits associated with inclusive practices for students with severe disabilities, this article examines the foregoing factors to better understand how they affect placement decisions and to identify barriers to implementing at a national level more inclusive placements. The article also addresses systems change solutions, and several new federally funded initiatives that could contribute to authentic changes in placement practices.

A Comparison of Instructional Context, Teacher Behavior, and Engaged Behavior for Students with Severe Disabilities in General Education and Self-Contained Elementary Classrooms

1997 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kent R. Logan ◽  
Elizabeth B. Keefe
Keyword(s):  
General Education ◽  
Elementary Classrooms ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Teacher Behavior ◽  
Student Response ◽  
Functional Activities ◽  
Teacher Attention ◽  
Instructional Context ◽  
Students With Severe Disabilities ◽  
General Education Classrooms

This article presents results from an observational study comparing instructional context, teacher behavior, and engaged behavior for 15 students with severe disabilities in general education classrooms and 15 students with severe disabilities in self-contained classrooms. The observational data system was the Code for Instruction and Student Academic Response–Mainstream Version. The major significant differences were that students in general education classrooms received a greater proportion of their instruction through academic rather than functional activities and received more one-to-one instruction and teacher attention than did students in self-contained classrooms. No significant differences were found between the settings for student response. The most interesting finding may be that so few differences were found between general education and self-contained classrooms.

Inclusion and the Challenge of Assimilation for Teachers of Students with Severe Disabilities

1998 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 238-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Peters Goessling
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
General Education ◽  
Special Educators ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Cultural Dissonance ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities ◽  
Inclusive Settings ◽  
Changing Roles ◽  
Students With Severe Disabilities ◽  
General Education Classrooms

The perceptions of fourteen teachers from fourteen different public schools about their changing roles and responsibilities as they moved into inclusive settings with students with severe disabilities were explored in this qualitative study. It discusses their experiences of cultural dissonance as they left the segregated culture of special education and attempted to assimilate themselves into general education classrooms, grades K-8. Their dilemmas, doubts, and hopes for the future are discussed as well as the challenges that attempted cultural assimilation presents for special educators.

scholarly journals The Effects of Peer Delivered Self-Monitoring Strategies on the Participation of Students with Severe Disabilities in General Education Classrooms

2001 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy H. Gilberts ◽  
Martin Agran ◽  
Carolyn Hughes ◽  
Michael Wehmeyer
Keyword(s):  
General Education ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
General Education Teachers ◽  
Peer Tutors ◽  
School Students ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
Monitoring Strategies ◽  
Survival Skills ◽  
Students With Severe Disabilities ◽  
General Education Classrooms

This study investigated the effects of self-monitoring instruction delivered by peer tutors on the occurrence of academic survival skills displayed by five middle school students with severe disabilities. We employed a multiple baseline across subjects design. Instruction was provided in general education content classes. The students were taught to indicate on a self-recording sheet if they performed each of 11 skills. Data revealed an increase in the percentages of occurrence of survival skills across all students. Also, their general education teachers indicated that they observed a positive change for four of the five students. All students indicated that they believed that they were part of the class and reported an increase in their classroom participation. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Implementing Comprehensive Literacy Instruction for Students With Severe Disabilities in General Education Classrooms

2019 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 330-347
Author(s):  
Pam Hunt ◽  
Elizabeth Kozleski ◽  
Jaehoon Lee ◽  
Kathleen Mortier ◽  
Danielle Fleming ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Education ◽  
Early Literacy ◽  
Emergent Literacy ◽  
Literacy Instruction ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Students With Severe Disabilities ◽  
General Education Classrooms

The purpose of this conceptual replication study was to investigate the efficacy of an early literacy intervention when it was implemented by special educators in general education classrooms with students in the class participating in the lessons. The study was conducted in 16 schools in three states. Eighty students with severe disabilities participated in the study. Students in the intervention group received Early Literacy Skills Builder (ELSB) instruction, and students in the “business-as-usual” control group received literacy instruction planned by special education teachers to address the students’ individualized education program literacy goals. Literacy assessments were conducted in five waves scheduled across the school year. Results showed that students receiving ELSB instruction made greater gains in assessed literacy skills than students in the control group. These findings provide evidence that students with severe disabilities can benefit from comprehensive emergent literacy instruction when it is implemented in general education settings.

Placement of Students with Severe Disabilities Who Have Complex Health Care Needs in General Education Classes

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-44
Author(s):  
Donna H. Lehr
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
General Education ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
School Buildings ◽  
Health Care Needs ◽  
Specific Group ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Placement Decisions ◽  
Students With Severe Disabilities ◽  
Made In

Data reveal that insufficient progress has been made in increasing the number of students with severe disabilities who are educated in general education classes. Agran et al. asked why this is happening and discussed determinants that may be affecting placement decisions that serve to segregate students from their peers. This article is a review of the circumstances that have facilitated the movement of students with both severe disabilities and complex health care needs from hospitals and homes, and into school buildings. It also extends Agran et al.’s discussion to placement decisions that may be affecting this specific group of students.

Use of Instructional Time in Classrooms Serving Students with and without Severe Disabilities

1994 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 242-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tia M. Hollowood ◽  
Christine L. Salisbury ◽  
Beverly Rainforth ◽  
Mary M. Palombaro
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School ◽  
Student Engagement ◽  
General Education ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Instructional Time ◽  
Inclusive Schools ◽  
Contextual Characteristics ◽  
Profound Disabilities ◽  
Students With Severe Disabilities ◽  
General Education Classrooms

This investigation explored the use of teacher and student time in an inclusive elementary school where students with mild to profound disabilities were enrolled in general education classrooms. Participants included 6 students with severe disabilities and 12 students without disabilities. Observers recorded time used for instruction, as well as levels and types of student engagement and types of interruptions. Students in each group evidenced comparable levels of engaged time, and students with severe disabilities had no effect on losses of instructional time. Results were discussed in light of this school's contextual characteristics and the inclusive schools movement.

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