Diversity In The Classroom

Encoraging Your Child To Befriend Children With Disabilities

(CBS)  The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that children with disabilities be educated in the least restrictive environment possible. That means more and more of these kids are spending at least part of their days in the typical classroom.

According to the latest reports, 95.9 percent of "differently abled" children are being served in regular school buildings. Roughly one in 10 school-aged children has some sort of disability and is in the regular classroom. The most common disabilities seen in the classroom are learning disabilities such as ADD. Other disabilities seen most often include speech or language impairments, mental retardation and emotional disturbance.

Chances are, practically every child is going to come into contact with a differently abled child while at school. And practically every parent is going to wonder: how does this affect my "normal" child's education?

There's no need to worry, according to Freddi Greenberg, editor in chief of Nick Jr. magazine. Stay tuned for more.