Dragonfly: Specials Needs and Universal Access Resource Universal Access Educational Video Games and Software.

Delicate Threads - Friendships Between Children With and Without Special Needs in Inclusive Settings

A rare view of the nature of special friendships.

How do friendships between children with and without disabilities develop? How do they compare to friendships between typically developing children? What happens to these friendships over time? In Delicate Threads, author Debbie Staub helps to answer these questions through careful observations of friendships between seven pairs of children—each including a child with a moderate to severe disability—who are classmates in an inclusive Pacific Northwest elementary school. By comparing her observations to current theories of childhood friendship, the author helps us to understand the value of relationships between a "typical" child and one with moderate to severe disabilities. She also provides practical suggestions to help teachers and parents foster and maintain friendships in inclusive settings. This thought-provoking book provides important, real-life evidence about the merits of inclusion and can help guide educators and parents of all children into the future.

Typical Access Profile

Auditory Normal Low Extremely Low Not Using Hearing Hyper-Acute	Vision Normal Low Extremely Low Not Using Vision
Gross Motor All Some Few Not Using Gross Motor	Fine Motor All Some Few Not Using Fine Motor
Developmental Age Range 0 - 2 3 - 5 6 - 8 9 - 12 13 and Over	Language Typical Some Spoken Receptive Only Sign Assistive/Augmentitive Not Using Language