Inclusion Now!
Special Education Advocacy
Inclusion Now!
is an advocacy group committed to educating all children together. We believe inclusion is not just a special education issue but an educational issue. Children without disabilities need to be educated along side their peers with disabilities just as much as children with disabilities need to be educated in the same environments as their peers without disabilities.
The group has been together since 1991, successfully advocating for and supporting children in inclusive settings. We originally came together due to the fact that other advocacy groups seemed determined to focus on making segregated settings better by increasing the services students received. We strongly felt that no matter how many or how often services were delivered that needs could not be met in special education classes.
Inclusion was the key to success and as the name Inclusion Now! suggests we felt we could not wait. Children grow older by the day. Inclusive environments are needed now!
The purpose of this site is to provide answers
to
questions
regarding special education rights and strategies
regarding
education in the least restrictive environment. If
you have
questions, want help with strategies, need support or
want
to help support others around inclusion, this is the
place
to be.
If you are interested in settings that are not inclusive, we will provide you with information and refer you to other advocacy groups that can better meet your needs.
The geographic area we have chosen to
work in is
northern
Illinois. The counties we have advocates located in
are:
Winnebago, Boone, Ogle, McHenry, DeKalb, Lee,
Carroll,
Whiteside, Stephenson and JoDavies.
Inclusion Now! is a regional center for Family T.I.E.S. Network, one of Illinois' four parent training and information centers. Family T.I.E.S. can be reached at 800-865-7842 - 830 S. Spring Street, Springfield, Illinois, 62704
The core group of advocates we have are parents of
children
receiving special education services or advocates who
have
represented scores of children receiving special
education
services. Many of us work in the human services
field. We
have experience in Early Intervention, Service
Coordination, Child Development, Transition,
Advocacy,
Special Education Rights Training, Technical
Assistance and
Family Support. In addition to our own children we
are
educational surrogate parents
for children who have the Department of Children and
Family
Services as their guardian.
We are available for families, educational surrogate parents and individuals who represent children with disabilities. Please feel free to contact us with your questions.
Upcoming Events
Holiday Get Together - December ?? -
Rockford, IL - Call or e-mail for more information.
We're
Looking For
A Few
Good
Advocates!
Inclusion Now! will be conducting the third session of this year's advocacy mentoring series. On January 10, 1998 experienced professional-parent advocates will provide in depth training to others who are interested in learning how to be their own child's advocate and/or becoming volunteer advocates for other families. This all day workshop is an opportunity to learn about IEPs and IFSPs, Behavior Plans, transition as well as accessing services in general. Practical experiences, resources and successful strategies will be shared. Presenters for the day are Mitch Kremer and Rhonda Best.
Take the time...
Links to other
sites
on the Web
Best Practices - New non-profit that helps to support
Inclusion Now!
EDLAW, Inc. - Full text of IDEA, ADA,
504
Project CHOICES
- Technical Assistance to School Districts
Inclusion
Press
Axi
s Disability Rights
Family
Village
Still under construction - Isn't everything?
We are contemplating a frequently asked questions section. Let us know what questions you think should be here.
TELL US WHAT YOU
NEED!
Together We're
Better!
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