Journal Screenshot

International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development

Open Access Journal

ISSN: 2226-6348

Challenges in Preparing Teachers for Inclusive Education and Its Impact to Students with Learning Disabilities

Noor Aini Ahmad, Yoong Soo May

http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARPED/v7-i3/4575

Open access

This article addresses the inclusion mandate of students with disabilities through a case study. It begins with a review of debates concerning inclusive education and this current qualitative research aims to observe the extend of implementing inclusive education among students with mild learning disabilities in integration programs also known as the Special Education Integration Program for Students with Learning Disabilities. To address the issue, four Special Education teachers were selected as participants in this single site single case study. Data was collected through classroom observations, interviews and document analysis to investigate (1) the pedagogical aspects involve in implementing inclusive education among students with mild learning disabilities and (2) the adaptation made by the teacher in the curriculum prior implementing inclusive education. Result demonstrated that students were involved in both full and partial inclusion. Students with mild learning disabilities were not accompanied by special education teachers and they were fully taught by mainstream teachers who has never undergone any training on special education. The study recommends that students with learning disabilities who attend inclusive program should be accompanied by special education teachers or student management assistant/teacher assistant. It is also suggested that the mainstream teachers should be given appropriate training so that they too have knowledge to assist students to a better and meaningful life.

Adibsereshki, N. & Salehpour, Y. (2014). Peer acceptance of students with and without inclusion experience towards students with special needs in unisex schools of Tehran. Education 3-13, 42(6), 575-588.
Amr, M. (2011). Teacher education for inclusive education in Arab World: the case of Jordan. Prospects. 41: 399-413.
Hu, B.Y. (2010). Training Needs for Implementing Early Childhood Inclusion in China International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education. 2(1):12-30.
Boe, E.E. & Cook, L.H. (2006). The chronic and increasing shortage of fully-certified teachers in special and general education. Exceptional Children. 72(4): 443-460.
Bucholz, J. L. & Sheffler, J. L. (2009). Creating a warm and inclusive classroom environment: planning for all children to feel. Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education. 2(4), Art. 4.
Carlson, E., Lee, H., Schroll, K., Klein, S. & Willing, S. (2002). Final report of the study of personnel needs in special education. Washington, DC: Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education.
Cassady, J. M. (2011). Teachers' Attitudes toward the Inclusion of Students with Autism and Emotional Behavioral Disorder, Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education. 2 (7), Art. 5.
Charema, J. (2010). Inclusive education in developing countries in the sub Saharan Africa: from theory to practice. International Journal of Special Education. 25(1): 87-93.
Choate, J.S. 2004. Successful inclusive teaching: proven ways to detect and correct special needs. Boston: Pearson.
Combs, S., Elliott, S. and Whipple, K. (2010). Elementary physical education teachers’ attitudes towards the inclusion of children with special needs: a qualitative investigation. International Journal of Special Education. 25(1), 114-125.
Cook, B. G. (2001) A comparison of teachers’ attitudes toward their included students with mild and severe disabilities, The Journal of Special Education. 34 (4), 203-213.
Downing, J.E., Eichinger, J. & William, L.J. (1997). Inclusive education for students with severe disabilities: comparative views of principals and educators at different levels of implication. Remedial and Special Education. 18: 133-142.
Ford, J. (2013). Educating students with learning disabilities in inclusive classrooms. Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education. 3(1), Art. 2.
Franck, B. & Joshi, D. K. (2017). Including students with disabilities in Education for All: lessons from Ethiopia, International Journal of Inclusive Education. 21(4), 347-360.
Gal, E., Schreur, N. and Yeger, B.E. (2010). Inclusion of children with disabilities: teachers’ attitudes and requirements for environmental accommodation. International Journal of Special Education. 25(2): 89-99.
Hallahan, D.P., Lloyd, J.W., Kauffman, J.M., Weiss, M.P., and Martinez, E.A. (2005). Learning disabilities, 3rd Edition. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
IDEA (1997). The 1997 IDEA amendments: implications for school principals. NASSP Bulletin 82: 12-18.
Idol, L. (1997). Creating collaborative and inclusive schools. Austin, TX: PRO-ED.
Kalyva, E., Gojkovic, D. & Tsakiris, V. (2007). Serbian teachers’ attitudes towards inclusion. International Journal of Special Education. 22(3): 30-35.
Keating, S. & O’connor, U. (2012). The Shifting Role of the Special Needs Assistant in Irish Classrooms: a Time for Change? European Journal of Special Needs Education: 533-544.
Korkmaz, I. (2011). Elementary Teachers’ Perceptions about implementation of Inclusive Education. US-China Education review. 8(2): 177-183.
Ahmad, L. (2012). Development of instrument for measuring the attitude of teachers, administrators and policy makers towards inclusive education. Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary research in Business. 4 (5): 86-101.
Lindqvist, G. & Nilholm, C. (2013). Making schools inclusive? Educational leaders' views on how to work with children in need of special support. International Journal of Inclusive Education. 95-110.
Malaysia. (1996). Education Act 19

In-Text Citation: (Ahmad & May, 2018)
To Cite this Article: Ahmad, N. A., & May, Y. S. (2018). Challenges in Preparing Teachers for Inclusive Education and Its Impact to Students with Learning Disabilities. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 7(3), 569–581.