In Motherlode, a parent of a severely disabled child writes about the need for specialized schools, not regular public schools. In public schools, kids with severe disabilities are stigmatized.
We still need self-contained special education schools, and we need them to be rigorous and well-funded. Only when we honestly admit that we need these schools can we get down to the hard work of educating kids with disabilities, no matter what the setting. We cannot truly celebrate the diversity of people with disabilities if we fail to acknowledge the diversity among people with disabilities, and rise to meet the varied needs of all.
Schools are increasingly keeping kids with disabilities in district in order to save money. But, honestly, many are doing a crappy job of caring for those kids.
Apt. 11d 
Isn’t this more in the nature of a continuing disagreement about how best to educate children with disabilities? Unfortunately the discussion tends to be polarized by the moralistic tones adopted by all the participants, of which the linked article is an example.
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And, as with all children, the best way will depend in the child, as well as the teacher (and educational environment).
I would have liked to hear more about the story of how the environments profiled in the Deseret news article are being made to work for the particular children. The girl with Downs, who is on the cheer team at Nathan Hale — what supports does she have and how is she being integrated into the environment? Does she go to parties? Does her integration depend on particular kids, who individually support her? What does she do on the team and in class and how does that integrate with what everyone else is doing?
I got a picture of what was being provided in the specialized school, but in the case profiled, at least some of what was provided was physical therapy and medical care.
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