What is your educational background?
I have had two years of college.

Other experiences, staff development that prepared you for inclusion.
I worked for 5 years as a paraprofessional in a classroom for children with behavior problems, however I did not have any experience with inclusion before taking this job. I have had the opportunity to attend conferences and inservices related to teaming and inclusion through my job.

What is your job role?
I assist teachers in the adaptation and implementation of classroom assignments and behavior plans for all students in the classroom.

What is your role regarding the inclusive component of the program?
I assist two classroom teachers and a special education teacher in the regular education classrooms. I work with individual or small groups of children as planned by the teachers. I also help adapt materials for children who need alternate materials for an assignment.

How has your role changed or have you adapted your role as it related to the inclusive program?
I now feel that I am more involved in the planning for students. I'm included in the IEP process and the daily planning for each room I am assigned to. I enjoy being part of a team and working in different rooms.

What were you biggest concerns about participating in an inclusive program?
I wasn't sure that the children enrolled in special education could adapt and really be included as a true part of a regular education classroom. I wasn't sure that the children would benefit as much as they would in a self-contained program.

What were your experiences related to these concerns once inclusive services were implemented?
I now know that all of the children (both regular and special education students) benefit socially and academically in inclusive classrooms.

What do you see as the benefits of moving toward inclusive services?
I believe the biggest benefit is the role models that the children enrolled in special education see and interact with. They develop better behavior and social skills and the children enrolled in regular education learn empathy and caring for people who are different.