From an experience I had it was more so the attitude of the parent of the child that was not helpful and had to be changed. Like Daniel talked about, the way children with special education needs and varying disabilities are seen has a lot to do with the view that society on the whole has of them, including the families of these children.

The parents of the child had to be encouraged and told to not be afraid of having the child enrolled at what we would call a "normal" school. Both parents, especially the mother was very concerned and worried that her child will not be able to "fit in" more so to be able to make friends and participate  in activities at the school. As parents with a child having a special education need they shared the same concerns of probably all other parents when it  came to their children with disabilities.

As teachers we had to understand the concerns and position of the parent which was needed to work with them effectively as partners in the education of their child. They were also very concerned about the attitude and acceptance of other children and their parents towards their child. In this way the teachers at the school played an important role in educating all children about disabilities in general and about their classmates special needs in particular.

Understanding the concerns and fears of the parents of the child was an important first step in being an advocate for children with different learning needs and their parents and in affecting an attitude that was successfully changed. Today that child is like a shining star among his classmates, taking an active part in school activities and doing as well as any of his "normal" peers.