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Shaping
Ben's Future
Discussion Questions
- Do you
think it was appropriate for Kate and Jackie to take such active
roles in advocating for Ben's enrollment in a regular kindergarten?
- Should
Jackie and Kate have done more to present the school system's
perspective on Ben's educational needs and placement to the
parents?
- Bill Frank
presented a number of reasons for not including Ben. Those reasons
ranged from what was best for Ben to the reactions of other
parents at Crestland Elementary School. What were his arguments
against inclusion and were they valid?
- Did Jackie
and Kate do all they could to avoid conflict between the parents
and the start of school system? Could Jackie and Kate have done
more?
- Jackie
played an important role in this case. Do you think the outcome
would have changed if she had not assumed the role of advocate
for the family? That is, would the family have been equally
successful if they only had the support of the preschool teacher,
Kate?
- According
to Kate, the parents felt that if Ben weren't included in kindergarten
they would "never have a chance of having him in classes
with regular kids." Do you think this is a valid assumption?
- In this
situation, the kindergarten teacher could come to the preschool
to observe Ben. What if she couldn't? How would you facilitate
a smooth transition from preschool to kindergarten?
- In your
own state or local school district, would this family have been
able to secure full inclusion for their son in a regular kindergarten
setting?
- In the
school district described in this case, the teachers' contracts
allow them to refuse to have a child with special needs in their
classes. What is the policy in your state or local school district?
Do the teachers have any say so in the placement of a child
in their class?
- What is
"education" for children with significant developmental disabilities?
Is learning social skills an appropriate focus for an elementary
curriculum for children
with and without disabilities?
- What is
the role of early childhood programs in the transition of children
with disabilities from preschool to public school programs?
How can preschool and public school programs deal with diverse
educational philosophies and still maintain working relationships?
- Design
a four-hour workshop on inclusion for parents of preschool-age
children with developmental disabilities. Be sure to include
strategies for advocacy.
- Visit and
observe a regular kindergarten classroom for at least one hour.
Suppose then that this was the classroom that Ben would attend.
Make at least six specific suggestions that you would offer
the teacher on how to meet Ben's needs within the routine operation
of the class. [Note: The Summary of Ben's Developmental
Status as well as the parents' statements about what they want
for Ben may be used to identify Ben's needs.]
Shaping
Ben's Future Case Story
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