In 2020, as the world slowly began opening up again, my son and his friends ventured out while my daughter, Izzy, stayed home. At three years old, Izzy was ripe for learning and yearned for the company of other children. Finding the right school for her had been a journey filled with challenges. Izzy was born with a rare genetic disorder which caused a range of intellectual and physical disabilities. While others predicted her limitations, I looked to Izzy to determine her own abilities.
In my search for a school in Oakland, California, I found that private schools had fewer obligations to accommodate students with disabilities. California’s public preschools were reserved for low-income families, which we did not qualify for. The one special-education preschool that could accommodate Izzy would have sorted her into a separate classroom for students with heavy support needs. Though desperate for Izzy to attend school, I didn’t want her removed from society at an early age.
Inclusive education, where students with disabilities receive the support they require while being placed in general-education classrooms, is a better model for preparing students for the real world. Inclusive education offers higher test scores, grade point averages, stronger math and literacy skills, and improved communication and social skills. Studies suggest that an inclusive education can have positive long-term effects on almost every aspect of students’ lives, from enrolling in college to forming long-term relationships.
While the benefits of inclusive education are apparent, assessing how many U.S. schools are inclusive of students with disabilities remains challenging. A federal law like the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) made it more difficult for school districts to separate students with disabilities from their peers, but it doesn’t reach into individual classrooms. In 2020, only 66 percent of students with disabilities spent 80 percent or more of their time in general classes, while 30 percent spent significant time in segregated classrooms.
Overall, it’s crucial to prioritize inclusion in education and provide students with disabilities access to general-education classrooms. Thoughtful inclusion reinforces that while we are all different, we all have basic human needs for help and support. As Izzy’s parent and advocate, I understand that personal and moral judgments are just as important as data in determining the best approach for her education.
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