Liz, from Tri-County replied:
The special needs students have the opportunity to participate in group activities with their peers, developing friendships and imitating typical skills of children without disabilities.

Nancy, from Barkley replied:
Some of the benefits of inclusive services are: children of similar ages and a wide variety of abilities getting to know each other and become friends, collaborative training and staff development, parents of all the children receiving information on child development in all stages, services to children with their "neighborhood" peers, the opportunity for staff to share information and expertise with one another.

Pam, from Raintree replied:
When you teach in an inclusive class, you become a better teacher for all students. It forces you to look at individual needs. Additionally, you are exposed to and learn from therapists and support personnel. I am convinced our staff are better teachers because of our inclusion program. Additionally, there are many well documented benefits for children with disabilities and their peers. Finally, I think it is the right thing to do morally. I want to be a living example for my own children and the children in my classroom by demonstrating that all people have value, can contribute, and be an accepted member of society.

Paula, from Bright Futures replied:
All children are seen as children first. Also, all children are exposed to all kinds of experiences, people, and disabilities. We are all alike and we are all different. Everyone benefits from the services.

Renee, from White replied:
Typical children learn lessons for life such as compassion, patience, sharing, all people have value in this life and that it is togetherness, not pity and separation that will eventually be an important force in an improved society.

The ability to carry out suggestions from all therapists, in the normal setting of a childØs day and the opportunity for all children to benefit from smaller group lessons, varied strategies and teacher personalities, can of course, not be overlooked. Inclusion is an opportunity for the entire school to grow as a team.

Sharon, from St. Ben's Infant/Toddler replied:
The special needs children continuously make much better progress in their development than they did when I served them in a home-based program. The regular needs children learn to accept people with special needs at an early age.

Tina, from St. Ben's Preschool replied:
The environment is least restrictive. It is more natural. It resembles the population of the world as far as percentages of people (children) with special needs verse people (children) without special needs. The peer models do half the work for you. . . children are naturally inclined to follow and listen to other peers.

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