[nfbmi-talk] Act name for including school kids in activities with their peers

[Lydia Anne Schuck]

Hi Heather, Before you go to the school for this conversation, think about your answers to a couple of questions: What would inclusion look like for Acer?  Why is it better for him to be included?  The more clearly you have this in mind, the stronger advocate you will be.  You can even write down your vision for his inclusion, and refer to it during the meeting.  For instance, "Acer's father and I believe, based on Acer's _________ and ability to __________, that Acer should be in the ordinary classroom ___% of his school day.  We know that increased inclusion leads to better adult outcomes, and that brighter future is what we want for Acer."

Research justifies inclusion as a practice that leads to better adult outcomes for youth with disabilities (Test, Mazzotti, and others, 2009).  

Wright's Law is an advocacy organization.  The law you want for school age children is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This page at the Wrightslaw website details the requirements for Least Restrictive Environment in the IDEA law.  http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/lre.faqs.inclusion.htm

The Pop-up IEP document http://www.handsandvoices.org/articles/education/popup/pop_index.html has some answers for parents to give to specific educator objections, and it is very useful although it was written for parents of deaf and HOH children.

Good Luck.  
I can't talk long at work, but call me if it would be helpful (number below). 

Lydia Schuck, MSEd
Research Associate, National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center
Western Michigan University

phone 269.387.5990



----- Original Message -----
From: Heather Bowman-Tomlinson via nfbmi-talk <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
To: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
Sent: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 07:37:59 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Act name for including school kids in activities with	their peers

Hello,

Going to have a talk with Acer's school about a serious inclusivity issue today. What is the name of the act, is it Wright's law? The ADA?

Is there another one?

Heather

I may not be perfectly wise, perfectly witty, or perfectly wonderful, but I am always perfectly me. Anon. 
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