1. Creating Environments of
Inclusion for All Children
Brittie Crawford . Pacific Oaks College

2. Special Needs Legislation
and Education
 IDEA2004, the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Improvement Act of 2004 aims to
ensure equity, accountability and excellence in
education for children with disabilities
(Common Wealth of Virginia Department of
Education, 2010)

3. Beyond IDEA2004
 Acknowledgment of legislation
 Commitment to fulfilling the needs of all
children
 Every child = Unique abilities
 Identify needs for individualized instruction

4. What is Inclusion?

5. How does inclusion look
in practice?
 Authentic IEP’s
 Inclusion of parental feedback
 Appropriate assessment tools
 “Inclusion” not “Mainstreaming”

6. Operationalizing Inclusion
 IEP team = parents, admin & teachers
 Obtain support for particular needs
 Curriculum focus on tolerance and
diversity
 Hire staff with special needs
 Invite special needs community
 Modify facility for special needs

7. Creating Inclusive
Environments

8. Including Families of children
without disabilities

9. Recommended websites for
inclusion practice research
 Office of Special Education:
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers
/osep/index.html
 Special Education News
http://www.specialednews.com/
 Inclusive Schools:
www.inclusiveschools.org
 National Association of Special Education
Teachers: http://www.naset.org/

10. References
(2010). Parent’s guide to special education. Virginia:
Commonwealth of Virginia Department of
Education.
Hultgren, S. (n.d.). Inclusion: What does it really
mean?. Retrieved from www.ct-
asrc.org/docs/inclusion.pdf
Muller, E., & Ahearn, E. (2004, December). In J.
Markowitz (Chair). High quality inclusion
opportunities for preschool-age children with
disabilities. Presented at the Project forum at
the National Association of State Directors of
Special Education, Alexandria, VA.