Talking Points #8 on Kliewer in "Citizenship in School: Reconceptualizing Down Syndome"

Premise:
This article is about...

• The equal treatment of students with down syndrome with other students.
• Building the interaction of students with down syndrome with their other peers and teachers.
• How teachers should be able to accommodate their teaching skills for the students with down syndrome and the other students.
• Recognizing the needs of students with down syndrome in the classroom.
• Recognizing the individuality of the students.

Author's Argument:
Kliewer argues that students with down syndrome should be given the equal opportunity of learning the same way that students without down syndrome do. They should be integrated in the same classrooms as non-disabled students, provided with the same learning materials, taught the same academics, and taught the same and equal way as teachers would normally teach their students. By providing these opportunities to students with disabilities such as down syndrome, it gives them an equal chance at becoming better learners and become more socialized with their other peers.

Evidence:

1. The movement to merge the education of children with and without disabilities is based on the belief that to enter the dialogue of citizenship does not require spoken, or indeed outspoken, language. Rather, communication is built on one's ability to listen deeply to others.
2. Success in life requires and ability to form relationships with others who make up the web of community.
3. In establishing a representation of citizenship for all, Shayne recognized the transactional relationship of human reciprocity: Community acceptance requires opportunity for individual participation n the group, but opportunity cannot exist outside of community acceptance.

Questions/Comments/Points to Share:
I completely agree with Kliewer on the idea that students with disabilities like down syndrome should not be segregated from their other peers. They should have to same opportunity as any other student to learn the same academics and receive the same type of educational treatment as their other peers. By integrating them, they also become better socialized and learn how to react to students of non-disabilities. The same goes for the other students, they can get used to how students with disabilities act and look a little bit differently then what they do. It is a great interaction process for children alike and not alike. By segregating them from the other students and the academics and treatments that are in the other classrooms, they are not receiving the right privileges they should be getting. They are also not being exposed to the social life that they should be receiving by interacting with other student of non-disabilities and by keeping them segregated they are only being exposed to students like them. They need that diversity to become more successful in the real world.