Question: What is the difference between mainstreaming and inclusion? - Wondering
Answer: The two terms are used to describe how children with special needs are placed in the school environment. In mainstreaming, the children are primarily placed in special-education classes and join regular education classes at appropriate times during the day. This might be for lunch, recess, physical education, art, music or other special classes.
In inclusion, special-needs children will be removed only from the regular classroom environment if appropriate services cannot be provided in that setting. In order for special-needs students to be inclassrooms with the rest of the school population, adaptations must be made. For example, a child might need technological devices to see or hear what is going on in the classrooms, or an instructional aide or full-time attendant to help him or her participate fully in the class.