Inclusion and Philosophy of Special Education for Early ChildhoodEvery child has the right to receive an education in a welcoming and inclusive environment where it is given to him the opportunity to grow emotionally, physically, socially and intellectually regardless of their differences. I believe that education is the foundation a child needs to grow and learn, and that inclusion is a key ingredient in making up the learning environment. Without implementing inclusion, students are deprived of the opportunity to learn acceptance, respect, and growth through interacting with a variety of people with different skills and perspectives. The true purpose of school is to prepare children for their future so that they become lifelong learners. and global citizens. For children with special needs, special education services prepare them and provide them with support in meeting the challenges they face on a daily basis. Laws such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act have mandated that schools provide education to all children and reinforce the purpose of schooling, which is to provide children with the least restrictive environment to help them develop to their optimal potential. There are myriad concerns regarding the effect of inclusion on typically developing students, however research conducted by Bui, Quirk, Almazan, and Valenti shows that "[p]resence of students with disabilities results in a greater number of typical students making progress in reading and mathematics compared to non-inclusive general education classrooms” (p. 3). Therefore, inclusion not only benefits children with disabilities, but also benefits students' typically developing academic skills. and allows them to learn acceptance and respect for students with disabilities. The role of the teacher and... middle of paper... ... being together as a buddy system will give them the opportunity to learn from each other the typically developing child to learn to be sensitive to the needs of the child with a disability and make him or her feel welcomed. The child with a disability will also be able to observe and learn the self-help skills of the typically developing child. My future classroom will be a welcoming and engaging environment with activities that will enhance and encourage each child's development and learning. Inclusion is difficult, even for adults. However, without implementing inclusion, students are deprived of the opportunity to interact with a variety of people and learn acceptance and respect. It means making everyone feel loved and accepted just as they are. Having an inclusive environment will help children grow to become better adults and citizens of tomorrow.