One-to-one paraprofessionals for students with disabilities in inclusive classrooms: is conventional wisdom wrong?
Assigning one-to-one paraprofessionals has become an increasingly common response to support students with intellectual and other developmental disabilities in general education classrooms. This article challenges the conventional wisdom that such an approach to service provision is necessarily a desirable and supportive action. Five main reasons are presented that challenge overreliance on the use of one-to-one paraprofessionals in inclusive classrooms, establishing it as a critical issue in special education. A series of recommended positions and initial actions are offered to spur debate and encourage development of alternatives to the status quo.
Giangreco
Michael F
MF
University of Vermont, Center on Disability & Community Inclusion, Burlington 05405-1757, USA. Michael.Giangreco@uvm.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004495:Education of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities; D004519:Education, Special; D006801:Humans; D008282:Mainstreaming, Education; D010379:Peer Group; D011050:Policy Making; D011287:Prejudice; D012951:Socialization; D014481:United States