Inclusive Education and Least Restrictive Environment and How They Differ

(upbeat music) - Inclusive education differs from the least restrictive environment principle because the least restrictive environment principle, which is part of the federal special education law, IDEA, admits or even, and gives permission for students to be segregated, right? It says that there's a continuum of appropriate educational placements. All the way from being far away at a residential institution all the way up to full-time membership in general education with supplementary aids in services. And it's a deep philosophical debate about whether or not that continuum is appropriate. What, the way I like to look at the continuum in an inclusive school is that there's a continuum of intensity of supports. So some students can go into a general education classroom and maybe the only thing they need is adapted materials. Other students, perhaps, with the most significant access needs may need the supports of adaptive materials, augmentative communication, some sensory tools or sensory breaks. And so that continuum is one of support rather than a continuum of places. And many people have argued, including some of the judges who ruled on legal cases that have been brought around least restrictive environment, is that it was always intended that special education be a service, not a place.