Positive Behavioral Support

Inclusion in education is an approach to educating students with special needs. Under the inclusion model, students with special needs spend most or all of their time with non-disabled students. Implementation of these practices varies.

Inclusion is one of the very controversial topics concerning the education of students in today's society. It is the effort to put children with disabilities into the general education classes. The main purpose is to ensure that every child receives the best education possible by placing them in the best learning environment possible. Inclusion is a very beneficial idea, supported by law that promotes a well-rounded education while also teaching acceptance of others.

Inclusion is the act of placing students with disabilities into the general education classroom. Students are given the tools, time, and resources necessary to actively participate in all aspects of the general education classroom. Inclusion is not just adding a student with disabilities into the classroom, but genuinely including them as valued members of the classroom. Inclusion is not an easy system to put into practice because it requires a great deal of teamwork and cooperation between teachers, administrators, and parents. Positive Inclusion programs closely supervise the social and academic progress to ensure the students are thriving. When inclusion is done correctly, the teacher finds a way to meet the student’s needs in a way that is natural and unobtrusive. The resources and supports in an inclusion classroom benefit all students, not just the students with disabilities.

One major benefit that students can gain from being in an inclusion classroom is a heightened self-concept. “It is generally agreed that children who have learning problems and/or those who are behaviorally impaired often develop a poor self-concept.”(Dunn, 1963:113; Frostig and Horne, 1962: 11-12; Special Education in the Regular Classroom, 1969) One way that students can gain a better

Students with special needs need deserve the same education general education students are presented with. The philosophy of “ Disability Inclusion” concentrates on creating a safe, loving, and effective learning environment for students who suffer from physical, learning, and behavioral disabilities. When a student with disabilities is placed in the same environment as a non-disabled student, the results show wonderful improvement. When we are able to discover the strength of the student we are able to see just how much the student can improve in an inclusion classroom. Disability Inclusion not only sets a new beginning for an equal education of special education students, but it allows for more interaction with the child, and a more hands-on assessment.

Inclusion, in the world of education, is an approach or teaching strategy that focuses on including students with disabilities in the general education setting. The goal of inclusion is to educate students who may struggle with a variety of disabilities. The views on inclusion differ. Some educators are very receptive to the ideals of inclusion and all that it in tells. “The teachers (a) had favorable views of the concept of inclusion; (b) differed in their efficacy in achieving successful inclusion, and (c) faced challenges in their inclusive practices” (Hodge, Ammah, Casebolt, LaMaster, Hersman, Samalot-Rivera, & Sato 2009, 402). Some educators believe that it takes away from student learning for the non-disabled student. Jana Kratochvílová states: teacher have to address the fundamental question: how to most effectively organize the learning process for a diverse community of pupils within the class and therefore he needs to think through the possibilities of internal differentiation in the organizational aspect” (Kratochvílová 2015, 640). It is true, not all students with disabilities can be included in a general education classroom successfully. The student’s placement may require reevaluation in order to help provide the student with the best opportunity to succeed. Reevaluating the staff and their level of understanding and education concerning inclusion may increase the changes for a student to be successful. The staff should not

According to Feierman, (2013)Researchers have identified evidence-based practices that reduce incidents of school delinquency including violent misbehavior, lessen the need for exclusionary disciplinary practices or referrals to the justice system, and amilorate academic performance among all students. School-Wide Positive Behavioral Supports (SWPBS)—also referred to as Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), restorative justice and trauma-informed education are examples of these practices. PBIS is the only such approach directly supported by federal law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires consideration of PBIS in an eligible student individualized education program.

Simonsen, B., Britton, L., & Young, D. (2009). School-Wide Positive Behavior Support in an Alternative School Setting: A Case Study. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 180-191.

The well research Positive Behavior Intervention and Support system has been widely implemented throughout the United States because school feel it is a great alternative to the zero tolerance. Much of PBIS has been implemented in elementary schools and it has shown the younger children react more positively to the system. In fact, Bradshaw estimated there is about 22,000 schools who have taken in this policy (Bradshaw, et al.). This is a large amount of school in the United State who have implemented this policy. School have begun to realize the poorly implemented zero tolerance policy is unacceptable and have shifted to a more proactive plan. Resultantly, it seems to be a common theme throughout the school who have carried out this policy

Consistency is important to any Positive Behavioral Support System and it is the third step in the model. Without consistency the PBSS would not work, it links skills to accountability and special situations (Knoff, 2017a). Being consistent means to conform, accuracy, or fairness. By practicing expected behavior in the classroom and common areas will improve the success and create a positive environment. Staff can intervene/prevent special situations such as teasing, taunting, bullying, harassment and fighting by following the Behavioral Matrix (Knoff,

The Positive Behavioral Support System (PBSS) is a program implementing training and incentives to encourage correct behavior on school campuses. The system is divided into three tiers. Tier 1 provides broad support to the entire campus. Tier 2 provides support to a target group. The students in Tier 2 are high-risk. Tier 3 is for individual students who have exhibited problems with adhering to the programs requirements. With the exception of Tier 1, the support in each tier is specific to the students and is based on assessing data. One of the most important components of this program is that all teachers, administrators and students practice the program with fidelity (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports 2017).

Inclusion in classrooms is defined as combining students with disabilities and students without disabilities together in an educational environment. It provides all students with a better sense of belonging. They will enable friendships and evolve feelings of being a member of a diverse community (Bronson, 1999). Inclusion benefits students without disabilities by developing a sense of helping others and respecting other diverse people. By this, the students will build up an appreciation that everyone has unique yet wonderful abilities and personalities (Bronson, 1999). This will enhance their communication skills later in life. Inclusive classrooms provide students with disabilities a better education

Gresham, F. M. (2004). Current status and future directions of school-based behavioral interventions. School Psychology Review, 33(3), 326–343.

For years children with special needs were ushered off to separate classes and schools. Children with special needs have the right to attend classes with their same aged peers in the same classroom with support. Students with special needs deserve the same opportunities they would have if circumstances were different. Inclusion gives those students with special needs the chance to be part of the community; able to form relationships outside of the family unit. All students benefit from inclusion; students with disabilities develop social skills and develop friendships while non-disabled students learn tolerance and acceptance.

Inclusion classrooms are growing and strengthening the education of children with disabilities in the state of California. Inclusion is a philosophy of bringing together a diverse group of students, including those with special needs, to learn and grow in the same environment. Inclusion aims to cater to all students in a supportive manner, knowing that each child brings forth their different skill sets and learning styles. Students, educators, parents and administrators all working together to build a cohesive classroom that is focused on acceptance and belonging. The state of California has joined the national movement and made it a priority to move to this model of education to close the achievement gap in students with disabilities. This could be special materials, teaching techniques, or equipment and / or facilities. Finding and utilizing the abilities of the exceptional student is the most important goal in special education. Students with disabilities benefit from inclusion because they are exposed to age-appropriate curricula and work with and learn from typical peers.