I'm writing a paper on issues in Inclusion. What are some questions that I can ask different people?

Answer 1

For school administrators and teachers:
What is the philosophy behind inclusion?

What are the benefits of inclusion versus a special education program? Address areas of socialization as well as academic achievement.

What kind of support is given to the inclusion student? What kind of support is given to the teacher(s)? Are the other students given any "ability awareness" training or information about disabilities to help them understand their classmate's condition?

How do you define what makes a successful inclusion situation?

Are there certain conditions (behavioral, self-care, medical) that have an impact beyond the social and academic aspects of the school environment? What happens if a particular student's behavior becomes disruptive to the classroom environment?

Have you gotten feedback (either positive or negative) from the parents of other students in the classes where children with special needs have been included?

How do you modify the curriculum and instruction for the student with special needs?

How much is the special needs child included socially, both within the school setting and outside of it? How much support, and what kinds of support, are needed for social inclusion? Does this change as the children become older? What about socialization as the students reach adolescence?

How well does the inclusion model prepare teenagers with disabilities for their adult lives?

For parents:
Why did you choose inclusion for your child? What do you hope for as a result of full inclusion, as opposed to special education classes?

Do you think that full inclusion benefits the other students in your child's class? In what ways?

As your student becomes a teenager, do you think that full inclusion will give him/ her the training that they will need for a successful adult life? Why or why not?

For students who are included: (being sensitive to the child's level of communication, as well as any particular communication needs)
Do you like being in "Ms. Smith's" first grade class (or whatever)? What's the best thing about it? What's the hardest part?

For other students in the class: (adjusting to their age appropriate level)
Have you learned anything by getting to know "Johnny" this year? Do you think your experience this year is different because he is in your class? How?

Answer 2

Do you feel all children can be included?
Which children benefit the most and why?
What is the effect of Inclusion on the typical mainstream child?
Is it realistic to expect one teacher to differentiate for multiple instructional levels?
Describe a past experience with Inclusion.
Describe the Idealistic Inclusion program.

Don't ask only parents - include the teachers too.

Answer 3

What do you know about the values of our inclusive model?
Will you tell us features of our inclusive model?
Will you name some projects that formed the Circle of Inclusion?
What are the benefits of preschool inclusive services?
Are there barriers to preschool inclusive services? You have to read about inclusion to know what are you talking about...ok?

Answer 4

go to www.schwablearning.org and sign up for free to post this on their parent to parent message board.
You will get some great answers there. No jokers on that board, just real parents that know a lot about special ed...

Answer 5

Great answers from the others but please make the questions accessible to all interviewees regardless of educational level in order to get a wide spectrum of answers.