I am in a way “lucky” with my own special needs child. He doesn’t want to be in gen pop. He thrives in special ed classes. He is less anxious knowing the other kids are like him, and he comes out of his shell and does his best. I have to fight the districts to understand that, as their law is to put each special needs kid into the “least restrictive” environment. He wants it to be what they call restrictive! He doesn’t want to be with brash bold typical kids! He goes catatonic. (But other kids do want to be just like the neurotypicals and in the same classes. So it can be tricky.)
You make my point. The needs and FEELINGS of the child are secondary to social engineering. Reality doesn’t always feel good and pretending everyone can learn and cope the same is refusing to face reality. Why would anyone subject their special needs child to any amount of discomfort for any length of time to go along with studies or obey politics? Why make them face their ‘differentness’ when they AREN’T different with others like them? IMO that’s like putting your 7 year old in a major league football game-he wants to play football but he ISN’T the ‘equal’ of the other linebackers and he can only get hurt by reality.No matter how much you cheer him on.