>
> With regard to your final paragraph, I feel that the benefits of
> socialising with non-disabled kids are over-rated. Surely the
> benefits are the actual act of socialising, not whether the
> person we socialised with was disabled or not.


OHHHH Deri...
You sure just hit a sore spot with me. My brother who is a nuero-psych in
California and makes his living advising" parents how to raise and teach
their kids with disabilities. . I visited him and my folks about 3 years ago
shortly after Alex turned 2.  Being the "big" brother he thought he would
give me the benefit of  his *expertise*. The advise was that Alex needed to
play with *NORMAL* children and by doing that ALex could learn how to act
normal..Excuse me?????? Just what was Alex???? Chopped Liver?????  I came
out and asked him if he meant to make sure Alex  gets a chance to play with
kids his own age, abled or disabled. He said no it was important for Alex to
play with *normal* kids. I couldn't quite get it through my brothers head
that Alex IS a normal little boy who just happens to have CP. Alex is the
only non walker in his class and has been for 3 years now. Playing with kids
( normal) who walked didn't teach Alex to walk. Having *normal* kids play
with Alex didn't make the other kid develop CP either It just made them kids
playing together. Not much hope with such expert advice out there.
Joanne.