ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, January 24, 1997 TAG: 9701240048
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
Inclusion in Montgomery County schools is a "good, solid program," according to two researchers hired to evaluate the system's approach to educating children with disabilities.
Independent consultant John McLaughlin and Professor Criss Walther-Thomas of the College of William and Mary spent the past year gathering comments about the system's inclusion program.
Inclusion, also called mainstreaming, is a philosophy where children with disabilities stay in regular classrooms for as much of the day as possible. Montgomery County has received national attention for its program, which includes children with even severe disabilities in the classroom.
The two researchers interviewed various groups, including the special education advisory committee, teachers, administrators and members of the PTA. Based on those comments, they developed a survey that was sent out to others in the schools recommended by principals.
The researchers found a majority of people supported the inclusion philosophy; about 80 percent said they thought support for inclusion was increasing in the schools. Two-thirds of those interviewed said they thought "regular" children were not adversely affected by being in a class with special needs children, and many said they noticed learning and behavioral improvements with both groups of children.
Supplying enough support for teachers, though, is essential to making inclusion work. The researchers said they heard repeatedly about the need for enough aides and inclusion specialists in the schools. Many said inclusion works best in classes with a low ratio of students to teachers, a goal Montgomery County has been aiming for in its elementary school grades for three years.
Some in the survey complained that they didn't feel comfortable criticizing inclusion; the researchers recommended "risk-free" forums where teachers and parents could speak openly about their concerns.
Walther-Thomas and McLaughlin admitted their research was gathered in a subjective manner and didn't use test scores extensively. They encouraged the school system to develop concrete ways to measure performance and improvements in the program.
Director of Special Education Pat Radcliffe said later this report mirrored a study conducted by the school system two years ago.
Since the program began in earnest five years ago, Montgomery County has been scrutinized not only across the state, but the country. "Educating Peter," an award-winning documentary produced by Home Box Office, chronicles Peter Gwazdauskas' experience in a Gilbert Linkous Elementary School classroom. The boy, who has Down syndrome, is filmed every year by HBO for another film once he completes high school five years from now.
Parents of children with disabilities are moving to Montgomery County specifically for its inclusion program. When Mark Hartmann, who is autistic, was not allowed to be included in regular classrooms in Loudon County, his parents moved him to Montgomery.
In December, a federal judge ruled that Loudon County must provide the same regular classroom experiences as Montgomery County for Hartmann.
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