The Importance of Advocacy and Inclusion in Special Education

Special education teachers play a critical role in the nation’s education system, using their expertise to work with students who have learning, neurodevelopmental, emotional, behavioral and physical disabilities. Their ability to assess and meet the educational needs of students with mild to moderate disabilities makes them an in-demand addition to a school’s teaching staff. 

An important part of what they do involves advocacy and inclusion in special education. The very nature of their job requires a focus on this area. By adapting lessons to meet the needs of disabled students, as well as developing individualized plans, teachers help accomplish the public education system’s goals of meeting the needs of all students. 

Those who enroll in a Master of Science in Special Education program develop these important skills. In addition to learning the best practices for teaching K-12 students with disabilities and collaborating with families and other special educators, they also learn to become effective advocates for inclusive education. 

Why Advocacy for Special Education Students Is Important

The responsibilities of special education teachers put them in a perfect spot to become advocates for students with disabilities. Writing for the Home Room blog of the U.S. Department of Education, Lauren Jewett, a special education teacher in New Orleans, said, “Part of being a teacher leader means being an advocate and using our professional expertise to impact transformative change.” 

She offered a variety of ways that special education teachers can become advocates. They start with teachers knowing and sharing their stories, because powerful stories from the special education profession can lead to significant policy change, such as more funding for special education resources. 

The Connection Between Advocacy and Legislation in Special Education

Special education teachers should also know what their passions are and become an expert in that area. This involves researching and staying up to date with the latest education policies and proposed legislation. This could involve attending meetings on educational issues, including those held by the local school board, community meetings and state legislative committee hearings. 

The most dynamic special education advocates also look for opportunities to contact elected officials and collaborate to write about the importance of advocacy in special education. 

Why Inclusion for Special Education Students Is Important

Inclusion in special education classrooms is important because it fosters a sense of belonging and equal opportunity for all students. Inclusive classrooms allow students with disabilities to engage alongside their peers in general education settings, promoting social interaction, collaboration, and the development of empathy among all students. Inclusion aligns with the principles of equity and fairness, ensuring that students with disabilities have access to the same curriculum and learning experiences as their peers, to the greatest extent possible. 

The concept of inclusive classrooms evolved alongside traditional, self-contained special education classrooms, in which students with disabilities are taught separately from their typically developing peers. Some students, such as those with severe disabilities and high support needs, may benefit best from the self-contained classroom, which still exists. Various theories have influenced the understanding that students with disabilities thrive academically when learning alongside their non-disabled counterparts. 

Research shows that students with disabilities who are included in general education classrooms tend to perform better academically and socially than those who are placed in segregated settings. A 2022 Edutopia study analyzed the academic records of 24,000 students who qualified for special education and shared significant findings. Researchers found that spending 80% or more of their time in a general education classroom increased the disabled student’s reading score by 24 points and their math scores by 18 points in comparison to those who spent more time in special education classrooms. 

According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), students with disabilities should be educated in the least restrictive environment, however, depending on the type of disability – such as those who need to be monitored for health reasons – not all children with disabilities can or should be in a general education setting. 

Start Toward an Online Master’s Degree in Special Education

The Master of Science in Special Education program from Eastern Connecticut State University offers students the chance to learn about the importance of advocacy and inclusion in special education.  

The online program offers flexibility to busy professionals in how they schedule their time spent on coursework. Most students can finish the program in less than two years. Students can complete the elective practicum hours in their own community, giving them the opportunity to enact positive change where it matters to them.  

The program is ideal for experienced and certified teachers, teacher candidates who have completed a teaching certification program, school personnel with teaching experience and working professionals who aspire to learn the best practices for teaching K-12 students with disabilities. The program also offers two plans of study – a cross-endorsement track for students who hold a teaching certification and a track for students who do not have a certification but have relevant teaching experience as an interest in special education coursework.