A Commentary on Inclusion and the Development of a Positive Self-Identity by People with Disabilities

A growing number of concerned individuals throughout the world, including people with disabilities, their parents, and educators, are advocating that students with disabilities be educated in the mainstream of neighborhood classrooms and schools. However, some disability-rights advocates believe that if people with disabilities are to have a well-developed sense of identity as adults, they need to have had opportunities in their school years to associate with other people (both children and adults) having similar characteristics and interests. In this article, we examine this issue and provide one perspective on how it might be addressed.