Did you know that only 15% of students with intellectual disabilities and 42% of students with autism in Maryland are included for 80% or more of their school day?
Did you know that those numbers only marginally improve to 35% of students with intellectual disabilities and 56% of students with autism when you lower the bar to just 40% or more of the day?
Did you know that in the U.S. as a whole, 8% of students with autism receive special education services in a separate school or residential facility, but in Maryland, that number is 16%?
Looking at Least Restrictive Environment data at www.ideadata.org, a few things become clear: first, as a nation, we need to do a better job at finding ways to educate everyone together. More than that, here in Maryland, we need to keep asking hard questions and pushing for more meaningful inclusion in public schools.
Like this post from Think Inclusive shares, there's no reason for so many separate classrooms.
While one-size-fits-all education isn't the answer, neither is specializing to the point of isolation.