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I think the answer to that question is complex but first and foremost it's important to recognize that I don't feel we've were anywhere near to where we
should be as it relates to the issue of inclusion in the education environment. There is no question that there is great strides that have been made.
Any study you look at there are more and more kids being included, kids who are included are educated predominantly in general education
settings. If they get what they need to do better than similar kids in segregated set settings. We've known that for quite a while. In relationship
to completing school, getting work, going on to higher education. So many more kids are getting those types of programs. There's a big
difference between poor kids, low-income kids, and more affluent kids on this dimension. There is a big disability achievement gap that
corresponds roughly to poverty and race. I think we need to be focusing the much more attention on that issue. But overall the trends are
positive as it relates to this issue. And I do think that A major factor in these positive trends has been disability civil rights legislation section 504
the IDEA and I think in some important ways the Americans with Disabilities Act altogether have made a difference that have emphasized, all three
acts have emphasized, that the importance of people with disabilities being integrated into society, in all realms of society not just education I think it's
those have been important I think there's also been cultural changes that have been important. I do think that more people with disabilities being out and
acknowledging their disabilities, parents being positive about their children with disabilities from an early age. I can remember when I first started
out in the field of special education and you'd meet with many parents for whom disability was viewed as a great tragedy. You see many younger
parents today of kids with disabilities even at very young ages who have already have a very positive view of their child. And that's important
thats a cultural change and those parents are seeking for their children to have all the opportunities of nondisabled kids and they have
the law on their side. Sometimes they don't need it sometimes they are fortunate enough to go to school district that embraces these kids. And have
medical providers who have the right knowledge about these kids and have positive attitudes toward these kids. It wasn't just the education
system that had negative attitudes towards children with disabilities also the medical system it's not that these systems don't need to change even
more but they have changed a lot. They need to continue to change more. Than the biggest issue we still face as we face over time is the
notion that that people with disabilities are fundamentally different different than people who don't have disabilities. That to some extent special-
education inadvertently reinforces that. These kids get treated in some places very differently than nondisabled kids and I think we have to
reach a point where we recognize that. And I know the topic of this is from statement of strength, and I love that that topic, but I would even like to say I'd
like to get to neutral that disability is not something inherently negative its neutral.