Comments on: The Burden and the Goal http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-burden-and-the-goal/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Thu, 17 Dec 2009 09:35:11 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: A Visit to an Old Friend; a New Study on Childcare http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-burden-and-the-goal/comment-page-1/#comment-560175 A Visit to an Old Friend; a New Study on Childcare Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:19:11 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-burden-and-the-goal/#comment-560175 [...] I don’t consider autism a “burden” (not in our household and lives), it is the case that Charlie’s needs have determined [...] [...] I don’t consider autism a “burden” (not in our household and lives), it is the case that Charlie’s needs have determined [...]

]]> By: Andrea http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-burden-and-the-goal/comment-page-1/#comment-547380 Andrea Sun, 22 Jun 2008 18:26:39 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-burden-and-the-goal/#comment-547380 My son's in a school with 'mainstreaming opportunities,' which basically means that he goes into regular ed classes like music a few times a week. It was made to sound like such a grand thing when I was talked into transferring him there, but after this year, with all the constant focus on what he wasn't doing, instead of how he was progressing, I'm kind of fed up with the whole deal. I feel like there's a great rush to 'mainstream' with not adequate attention to whether or not the child is truly ready for it. My son’s in a school with ‘mainstreaming opportunities,’ which basically means that he goes into regular ed classes like music a few times a week. It was made to sound like such a grand thing when I was talked into transferring him there, but after this year, with all the constant focus on what he wasn’t doing, instead of how he was progressing, I’m kind of fed up with the whole deal. I feel like there’s a great rush to ‘mainstream’ with not adequate attention to whether or not the child is truly ready for it.

]]> By: Kristina Chew, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-burden-and-the-goal/comment-page-1/#comment-552334 Kristina Chew, PhD Sun, 22 Jun 2008 03:07:55 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-burden-and-the-goal/#comment-552334 AnneC noted "structural inertia and budgetary strife and disorganization and such" as problems in schools in general----I'm not saying that our current school district, or any school district, is entirely free of these. But the "structural inertia" seems to be much less than in other places we've been in----while budget is always a concern, often what's seemed the biggest mountain to climb is to persuade and convince school administrators and boards of ed for needed services and training; for thinking in different ways about education. AnneC noted “structural inertia and budgetary strife and disorganization and such” as problems in schools in general—-I’m not saying that our current school district, or any school district, is entirely free of these. But the “structural inertia” seems to be much less than in other places we’ve been in—-while budget is always a concern, often what’s seemed the biggest mountain to climb is to persuade and convince school administrators and boards of ed for needed services and training; for thinking in different ways about education.

]]> By: farmwifetwo http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-burden-and-the-goal/comment-page-1/#comment-556541 farmwifetwo Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:28:55 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-burden-and-the-goal/#comment-556541 "Inclusion is where the student is primarily or solely instructed in the general Ed classroom with typical peers and can receive specialized services, accommodation and modifications via push-in model. The general education teacher, probably in consultation with an Inclusion Specialist is the primary teacher of the student." My severe non-verbal 6yr old was in a Gr 1 regular ed class this past year, and will be in a regular Gr 2 class next year. He receives the same education, same topics that they do... with a twist. He receives OT, Speech and PDD support all in the classroom, and they will be requesting computer funding and he will have his own computer from now until he graduates h/s. He's fully supported and fully integrated. Next years teacher's comment on Fri's IEP mtg "I am firm, fair and fun... I've worked with him before and truly view it as a challenge".. I requested her. They have a mini-competition going at school to see who can get him to "chat" with them the most. The Gr 6's help with recesses and lunch.... he's the school pet. It can be done... and done properly... just takes a little effort. S. “Inclusion is where the student is primarily or solely instructed in the general Ed classroom with typical peers and can receive specialized services, accommodation and modifications via push-in model. The general education teacher, probably in consultation with an Inclusion Specialist is the primary teacher of the student.”

My severe non-verbal 6yr old was in a Gr 1 regular ed class this past year, and will be in a regular Gr 2 class next year. He receives the same education, same topics that they do… with a twist. He receives OT, Speech and PDD support all in the classroom, and they will be requesting computer funding and he will have his own computer from now until he graduates h/s.

He’s fully supported and fully integrated. Next years teacher’s comment on Fri’s IEP mtg “I am firm, fair and fun… I’ve worked with him before and truly view it as a challenge”.. I requested her. They have a mini-competition going at school to see who can get him to “chat” with them the most. The Gr 6’s help with recesses and lunch…. he’s the school pet.

It can be done… and done properly… just takes a little effort.

S.

]]> By: Cliff http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-burden-and-the-goal/comment-page-1/#comment-554386 Cliff Sat, 21 Jun 2008 07:55:09 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-burden-and-the-goal/#comment-554386 Yeah, I didn't nitpick on that little detail. Cliff Yeah, I didn’t nitpick on that little detail.

Cliff

]]> By: Regan http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-burden-and-the-goal/comment-page-1/#comment-554382 Regan Sat, 21 Jun 2008 06:49:39 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-burden-and-the-goal/#comment-554382 Of course I goof it up by substituting Silverman for Snyderman. Egad. The rest stands :-). Of course I goof it up by substituting Silverman for Snyderman. Egad.

The rest stands :-) .

]]> By: Cliff http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-burden-and-the-goal/comment-page-1/#comment-558640 Cliff Sat, 21 Jun 2008 06:12:58 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-burden-and-the-goal/#comment-558640 I wonder how aware people are of those definitions when using those terms? I see a lot of misuse in that regard. Cliff I wonder how aware people are of those definitions when using those terms? I see a lot of misuse in that regard.

Cliff

]]> By: AnneC http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-burden-and-the-goal/comment-page-1/#comment-552831 AnneC Sat, 21 Jun 2008 05:49:01 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-burden-and-the-goal/#comment-552831 In my opinion, there's a lot wrong with "regular" education in general, and with the way things are managed in schools (both public and private). Not because any particular group of people (teachers, administrators, etc.) is somehow primarily made up of "bad people" -- I am not saying that at all -- but rather, because there's a lot of structural inertia and budgetary strife and disorganization and such. Not to mention the fact that hardly anyone takes bullying as seriously as they ought to. I guess what I'm saying is that when you have a school that is actually "good", it will practically by definition be good for all different kinds of students and learning styles -- not just for one specific narrow range of such, which is how a lot of schools presently operate, and probably why even a lot of kids not diagnosed with anything in particular have problems and don't end up learning as much as they could. In my opinion, there’s a lot wrong with “regular” education in general, and with the way things are managed in schools (both public and private). Not because any particular group of people (teachers, administrators, etc.) is somehow primarily made up of “bad people” — I am not saying that at all — but rather, because there’s a lot of structural inertia and budgetary strife and disorganization and such. Not to mention the fact that hardly anyone takes bullying as seriously as they ought to.

I guess what I’m saying is that when you have a school that is actually “good”, it will practically by definition be good for all different kinds of students and learning styles — not just for one specific narrow range of such, which is how a lot of schools presently operate, and probably why even a lot of kids not diagnosed with anything in particular have problems and don’t end up learning as much as they could.

]]> By: Kristina Chew, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-burden-and-the-goal/comment-page-1/#comment-549164 Kristina Chew, PhD Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:03:51 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-burden-and-the-goal/#comment-549164 Thanks for those definitions, Regan. I was thinking about how the terms are different yet intertwined and overlapping as I reflected on Silverman's statement. Thanks for those definitions, Regan. I was thinking about how the terms are different yet intertwined and overlapping as I reflected on Silverman’s statement.

]]> By: Regan http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-burden-and-the-goal/comment-page-1/#comment-552812 Regan Sat, 21 Jun 2008 03:56:52 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-burden-and-the-goal/#comment-552812 Nancy Silverman might have meant inclusion, not mainstreaming. Mainstreaming is where the student is in a specialized setting, within the neighborhood school and spends part of the day or week in classes/activities with typical peers (sometimes, but not always, the classes/activities are those not considered academic, such as art, PE, lunch and recess. This depends on student IEP).The primary teacher is a Special Educator or other specialist. Inclusion is where the student is primarily or solely instructed in the general Ed classroom with typical peers and can receive specialized services, accommodation and modifications via push-in model. The general education teacher, probably in consultation with an Inclusion Specialist is the primary teacher of the student. Some people use the term integration synonymously with mainstreaming with an eye to a potential goal of inclusion. Nancy Silverman might have meant inclusion, not mainstreaming.
Mainstreaming is where the student is in a specialized setting, within the neighborhood school and spends part of the day or week in classes/activities with typical peers (sometimes, but not always, the classes/activities are those not considered academic, such as art, PE, lunch and recess. This depends on student IEP).The primary teacher is a Special Educator or other specialist.

Inclusion is where the student is primarily or solely instructed in the general Ed classroom with typical peers and can receive specialized services, accommodation and modifications via push-in model. The general education teacher, probably in consultation with an Inclusion Specialist is the primary teacher of the student.

Some people use the term integration synonymously with mainstreaming with an eye to a potential goal of inclusion.

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