A Team-Based Junior High Inclusion Program

Abstract

Parent perceptions and attitudes regarding the inclusion of students with mild to moderate disabilities into general classrooms have been mixed. In this qualitative study, the parents of 17 students with learning disabilities and 1 student with behavior disorders were interviewed following the first year of a junior high inclusion pilot program based on teacher and student collaborative teams. Twelve response categories are identified. Parents recognized personal attention for students and positive attributes of teachers as strengths of the program and increased student self-esteem as a positive outcome. The results indicate that the majority of the parents were supportive of the program and wanted it to continue.

Critical Social Skills for Adolescents with High Incidence Disabilities: Parental Perspectives

“…To address the individual needs of students, parents in this study, as in other studies (Bowen, 1998;Gibb & Young, 1997;Love, 1996), identified the need for greater (a) parent and teacher communication, and (b) teacher and student communication.…”

River of Ideology, Islands of Evidence

“…Understandably, for parents, positive attitudes about inclusion appeared to be the norm, although anxiety about the actual mechanics of inclusion has also been reported (Bennett, DeLuca, & Bruns, 1997;Gibb et al, 1997). This ambiguity was clearly seen among parents who supported inclusion but had reservations about it for their children (Lovitt et al, 1999).…”

Parents' Perspectives on Personnel Attitudes and Characteristics in Inclusive School Settings: Implications for Teacher Preparation Programs

“…Through this type of analysis, the findings were firmly &dquo;grounded&dquo; in the data, as opposed to predetermined assumptions I could have brought to the research focus (Glaser & Strauss, 1967).…”

“…In recruiting participants, I used a process of &dquo;purposeful sampling&dquo; whereby I sought out parents who would add a dimension to the data that might not appear otherwise (Glaser & Strauss, 1967). I attempted to &dquo;consciously vary the type of people interviewed&dquo; (Taylor & Bogdan, 1984, p. 83).…”

“…Semistructured telephone interviews with parents of children with mild to moderate disabilities were conducted by Gibb et al (1997). These children were members of a junior high inclusive program.…”