Teachers' Perceptions of the Supports Critical to the Success of Inclusion Programs

1996 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Gessler Werts ◽  
Mark Wolery ◽  
Erin D. Snyder ◽  
Nicola K. Caldwell
Keyword(s):  
General Education ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Training Support ◽  
Third Stage ◽  
Moderate To Severe Disabilities ◽  
General Education Classrooms

Two mail surveys, one with a follow-up, were conducted to determine if consensus existed among general and special education teachers on (a) the conditions and supports that are critical to including children with substantial disabilities in general education classrooms and (b) problems faced in implementing inclusive education. The data were collected in three stages. The first stage was a questionnaire sent to teachers in Pennsylvania who had experience including children with moderate to severe disabilities in general education classrooms. Through two open-ended questions, they were asked to identify critical supports for inclusion and major problems they faced when including children with disabilities. For the second stage, the same respondents were asked to rate the importance of the categories of supports and to rate the significance of the problems they faced. The results indicated that training, support from a team of professionals, and having help in the classroom were mentioned by a large portion of the respondents. The third stage involved a national sample of elementary, general education teachers responding to the open-ended questions. The respondents in the national sample (teachers who may or may not have been involved in a supported program of inclusion) identified the same three supports more often than other supports.

scholarly journals Special Education Teachers’ Perceptions of Their Preparedness to Teach Students With Severe Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms: A Saudi Arabian Perspective

SAGE Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 215824402095065
Author(s):  
Rashed Aldabas
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Students With Severe Disabilities ◽  
Preparedness To Teach ◽  
Practical Implications

Successful inclusive education for students with severe disabilities (SD) relies on the preparedness of their teachers. This descriptive study investigated special education teachers’ perceptions of their preparedness to teach students with SD in inclusive educational settings. A survey was sent to 382 teachers of such students. In general, findings indicate that participants were confident that they were prepared to teach students with SD in inclusive education. Findings also show that the lowest levels of confidence were reported by participants with the shortest working experience, participants who have taught students with moderate and severe intellectual disabilities and those with multiple disabilities, participants who have taught in the lower grades, and those who have already taught in general classrooms. The practical implications of the findings are discussed for supporting successful implementation of inclusive education for students with SD in terms of improving special education teachers’ preparedness.

Special Education Faculty Positions Advertised from 1991 to 1997: Reflective of Current Practices?

2000 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Eichinger ◽  
June Downing ◽  
Kelly Evans ◽  
Amy Feck ◽  
Robert Ike
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Special Education ◽  
General Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Special Educators ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Faculty Positions ◽  
Job Advertisements ◽  
General Education Classrooms

As inclusion of students with disabilities in general education classrooms becomes more common, it is important for special education teachers to have the necessary skills and competencies to meet the needs of a heterogeneous group of students, some of whom may have severe disabilities. Given this need, it is imperative that institutions of higher education have faculty who can prepare future special educators to be successful in inclusive environments. The purpose of this study was to examine advertisements in The Chronicle of Higher Education to determine the demand for faculty positions from 1991 to 1997, particularly those related to severe disabilities, inclusive practices, and cross-categorical teacher preparation. Results indicated that for all years except 1997, 8%-10% of the job advertisements were for positions in severe disabilities. Position announcements that designated expertise in severe disabilities and used an inclusionary term (mainstreaming, integration, or inclusion) increased from 5% to 35% and then decreased to 20%. Position announcements for jobs other than in severe disabilities that also specified an inclusionary term increased from 8% to 22%.

scholarly journals Teachers’ Perceptions of Inclusion in a Pilot Inclusive Education Program: Implications for Instructional Leadership

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary Y. Mngo ◽  
Agnes Y. Mngo
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Instructional Leadership ◽  
General Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Education Program ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Integrated Classrooms

The opinions of general education secondary school teachers in seven select schools involved in a pilot inclusive education program in the Northwest Region of Cameroon were sought. The findings reveal that most teachers in Cameroon still prefer separate special education institutions to inclusive ones. These conclusions contradict earlier research which showed that resistance to integrated classrooms was emanating from beliefs and customs. Teachers with some training on teaching students with disabilities and more experienced and highly educated teachers were more supportive of inclusive education indicating that resistance to the practice is linked to inadequate or complete lack of teachers’ preparedness. Younger, less experienced teachers with no training in special education indicated less enthusiasm regarding the benefits of inclusion, their ability to manage integrated classrooms, and teach students with disabilities. The implication of these findings for future research, institutional support systems, institutional policies, and overall instructional leadership is discussed in this article.

Teacher and Administrator Perceptions of Heterogeneous Education

1996 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard A. Villa ◽  
Jacqueline S. Thousand ◽  
Herman Meyers ◽  
Ann Nevin
Keyword(s):  
General Education ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Administrative Support ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Administrator Perceptions ◽  
Collaborative Relationships ◽  
Full Inclusion ◽  
Regular Education Initiative ◽  
Teacher Survey ◽  
Positive Attitudes

Perceptions of 680 licensed general and special education teachers and administrators related to the full inclusion of all students, including students with moderate and severe disabilities, were assessed using the Heterogeneous Education Teacher Survey and the Regular Education Initiative Teacher Survey-Revised. Respondents were from 32 school sites judged as providing heterogeneous educational opportunities for all children. Results favored the education of children with disabilities in general education through collaborative relationships among all educators—contradicting previous results suggesting that educators prefer pullout programs. For both general and special educators, administrative support and collaboration were powerful predictors of positive attitudes toward full inclusion.

Barriers to Including Children with Disabilities in Egyptian Schools

2020 ◽  
pp. 000-000
Author(s):  
Elsayed Elshabrawi A. Hassanein ◽  
Taha Rabie Adawi ◽  
Evelyn S. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Children With Disabilities ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Inclusive Settings ◽  
Teachers Beliefs ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Purposive Sample

Abstract This study set out to investigate teachers' perceptions of barriers to including children with disabilities in general schools in Egypt. This descriptive, qualitative study drew on a purposive sample of twelve general and special education teachers within two educational districts in Cairo, Egypt. Through in-depth interviews, teachers were asked about their perceptions of the barriers that hinder the implementation of inclusive education in Egypt. Four categories of barriers were identified: structural-organizational, personal, interpersonal and socio-cultural barriers. The findings showed that these barriers are related and interact to affect teachers' beliefs about the possibility of the implementation of inclusion in Egypt. In addition, the study argues that “barriers to inclusion” is a very complicated issue that includes many interrelated contextual factors that should be addressed to implement inclusion effectively. The results indicate that differential change procedures should be followed if we would like to enhance the learning of children with disabilities in inclusive settings.

Learner-Centered Professional Development: A Model to Increase Inclusion for Students With Moderate Intellectual Disability

Inclusion ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bree A. Jimenez ◽  
Tammy Barron
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
General Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Individual Student ◽  
Learner Centered ◽  
Teacher Skills ◽  
Universal Accessibility ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
Moderate To Severe Disabilities

Abstract In the current climate of universal accessibility, it is not surprising that more students with disabilities are being served in inclusive contexts. Although the reported increase in inclusion rates are promising, the rate of increase of students with moderate to severe disabilities is thought to be much lower and inclusion is still a struggle for the students with the highest needs. Questions emerge regarding the effectiveness of teaching practices in relation to progress towards specific curricular goals, at least in part because of concerns about dependence on sophisticated teacher skills for meaningful inclusion to occur. General consensus in the field is that professional development may provide support to teachers to adequately serve students with disabilities. We sought to implement a model of professional development which first explored the unique strengths and needs of an individual student or small group of students with a moderate or severe disability who were already being served in the general education classroom. We were able to tailor the learner-centered professional development package based on the needs of the team as they work directly with this population to implement embedded instruction and team collaboration to address the content areas.

Creating a Responsive Curriculum for Inclusive Schools

1996 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 182-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALICE UDVARI-SOLNER ◽  
JACQUELINE S. THOUSAND
Keyword(s):  
General Education ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Promising Practices ◽  
Significant Disabilities ◽  
School Communities ◽  
Learner Centered ◽  
Inclusive Schools ◽  
General Education Classrooms ◽  
Theoretical Foundations

As school communities begin to serve students with significant disabilities in general education classrooms, there is a need to recognize and employ curriculum orientations and practices that interface with the purposes and principles of inclusive education. this article begins by offering reconstructionism---or the process of critique and reformulation of practice---as a useful orientation for viewing the design of curriculum in inclusive schools. sound theoretical foundations and the use of learner-centered, process-oriented, and communication-based instructional approaches are proposed as promising practices for designing a curriculum that is responsive to the needs of diverse learners. following this discussion, implications for future research are articulated.

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.

Special Education Teachers’ Perceptions of Preparedness to Teach Students With Severe Disabilities

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 273-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea L. Ruppar ◽  
Lance S. Neeper ◽  
Jennifer Dalsen
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Master's Degrees ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Experience Levels ◽  
Instructional Needs ◽  
Students With Severe Disabilities ◽  
Preparedness To Teach

In the current study, special education teachers’ perceptions of preparedness to implement recommended practices for students with severe disabilities were examined. A vignette-style survey was sent to special education teachers assigned to teach students with severe disabilities. Overall, respondents reported higher perceptions of preparedness to manage educational programs than to provide direct services to students with severe disabilities. Teachers with a generalist (i.e., cross-categorical) licensure were significantly less prepared to meet intensive medical, communication, and instructional needs of students with severe disabilities. Teachers with master’s degrees felt more prepared to work with students with severe disabilities in several key areas, although they felt less prepared to address long-term curriculum development. Perceptions of preparedness to teach students with severe disabilities varied among teachers with different types of teaching licenses, different levels of education, and different experience levels.

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