Over the last 20 years, research in the field of education has provided
teachers with more information about effective interventions and strate-
gies for students with disabilities. Current trends in education are mov-
ing toward more inclusive educational experiences for children with
disabilities, alternative learning styles, and differentiated instructional
practices to support all students to succeed (Yell & Katsiyannis, 2003).
As more and more special needs students are being mainstreamed into
general education classrooms, teachers are faced with the difficult task
of meeting their specialized needs, while still providing a challenging ex-
perience for all students in the class. There have been opportunities to
learn about autism from the experiences of parents of children with au-
tism, adults with autism, and from current research on effective interven-
tions and inclusive educational programs. Although various professional
development opportunities exist, many questions still remain regarding
how to best provide effective services in inclusive classrooms (Grandin,
2002; Schwartz, Billingsley & McBride, n.d.). This brief presents current
research on strategies for including and accommodating students with
autism spectrum disorders in inclusive classrooms.