Asperger’s Autism and The Classroom Setting Essay -- Education

I am very interested in high at risk student populations in traditional schools. While many students labeled as high at risk exist in ever-increasing numbers, there is little in the field that demonstrates the remediation of the student. There have been successful ventures in some instances, however, the greater question of what works and what does not work exists in piece meal fashion (Grenier, 2010). The high at-risk population I am interested in is the special needs child. I have spent numerous years working with autistic children in school settings. The enduring social emotional issues and the mechanics of social interaction have made me contemplate the question of what works best for these children to learn. I have worked in schools where special needs children were the sole students, and in schools that mainstreamed. Towards my EdD, I am looking at the pragmatic results of inclusion versus mainstreaming versus self-contained classrooms. All three offer different learning envir onments and are based upon public law 94-142, now called the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (Demonte, 2010). Until 1975, schools simply had to describe the student as different to either exclude the student from school or tell the parent to institutionalize the student (p.158). When the IDEA came into being, schools acknowledged special needs students who previously they would not accept into their school (p.165). I remember distinctly in 1969, that separate classrooms housed and educated students with disabilities. It was the beginning of my journey in working with at risk populations. Mr. Papanek was the special education teacher and I remember his compassion and commitment to these children. I often volunteered to use my study hall cl... ....proxy1.ncu.edu/docview/750493608?accountid=28180 Higbee, J.L., Katz, R.E., & Schultz, J.L. (2010). Disability in higher education: Redefining mainstreaming. Journal of Diversity Management, 5(2), 7-16. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.proxy1.ncu.edu/docview/506637577?accountid=28180 Litvack, M.S., Ritchie, K.C., & Shore, B.M. (2011) High- and average-achieving students' perceptions of disabilities and of students with disabilities in inclusive classrooms. Exceptional Children, 77(4), 474-487. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.proxy1.ncu.edu/docview/877027165?accountid=28180 Loefgren, E. (2011). The missing piece of the autism jigsaw puzzle: How the IDEA should better address discipline problems. Law & Psychology Review, 35(1), 225-238. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.proxy1.ncu.edu/docview/896739171?accountid=28180