Students with disabilities attend regular classrooms and schools in greater numbers than ever before. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 96 percent of students with disabilities are enrolled in regular schools and the majority of these children are in regular classrooms for most of the school day.

Federal law dating back to 1975 requires schools to consider the "least restrictive environment" when making placement decisions for students with disabilities. In Pennsylvania, the 2005 Gaskin settlement further strengthened this mandate by monitoring school districts and providing training in inclusive practices.

Authors Mary Falvey, left, and Paula Kluth will speak at the PEAL event March 11-12.

To be successful, inclusive education requires vision, teamwork and ongoing problem-solving. This I know from personal experience. My son, who has cerebral palsy, is in seventh grade at Pittsburgh Carmalt K-8 in Brookline. His inclusive education program has many components and requires much from him, his teachers and parents. But all the parts are in place, and he is flourishing in the educational setting that is right for him.

Western Pennsylvania is fortunate to have an organization that champions and supports inclusive education -- the Parent Education and Advocacy Leadership Center. PEAL's second annual conference for parents and professionals -- "Building Inclusive Communities: Making It Happen" -- is scheduled for Tuesday and next Wednesday at Four Points by Sheraton, Mars.

Among the conference sponsors are the Pennsylvania Department of Education Special Education Inclusive Practices Project, Achieva, Special Kids Network, and the Down Syndrome Association of Pittsburgh.

Last year's inaugural conference attracted 400 people from across the state. In several cases, parents and educators attended in teams to develop strategies for a particular child.

In regard to school inclusion, the conference does not ask "why" but rather "how" to make it a reality, said Elisabeth Healey, executive director of the PEAL Center. Teachers today, she said, face the challenge of educating and engaging all their students in meaningful ways while meeting the multiple demands of education initiatives, such as No Child Left Behind.

The conference offers an outstanding lineup of national and local speakers.

Mary Falvey, Ph.D., dean of Charter College of Education, California State University, Los Angeles, is the author of a book whose title resonates with parents and teachers: "Believe in my Child with Special Needs! Helping Children Reach their Potential at School." In addition to bringing an inspiring message, Dr. Falvey will address the day-to-day challenge of meeting the diverse needs of students in the inclusive classroom.

Paula Kluth, Ph.D., also has a book title that rings true for parents and teachers: "You're Going to Love this Kid: Teaching Students with Autism in the Inclusive Classroom." The engaging Dr. Kluth is well-known to the local special education community. This time around, she will share her recent work on building literacy skills among students with autism and other disabilities.

One of my personal favorites, Michael McSheehan, also will speak. Mr. McSheehan, professor at the University of New Hampshire, uses video case studies to get down to the nitty-gritty of inclusive education: the planning, tools and technology that enable students to truly participate in classroom activities.

Several other conference speakers will address classroom practices, legal issues, transition to adulthood and other topics.

Parents and teachers involved in special education need to know about the PEAL Center, founded in 2005. Many of the staff and board members of this federally funded organization bring a history of breaking down educational barriers in our region. Some of their children were among the first students with significant disabilities to be included in regular classrooms in local schools. Like the parent advocates of the 1970s who fought for the basic right to education for students with disabilities, they are pioneers. My son, for one, benefits daily from the paths they have paved for inclusive education in western Pennsylvania.

It's a new day now, an era of higher expectations and better outcomes for students with disabilities. But -- let's face it -- we're not there yet. As Ms. Healey puts it, the PEAL Conference unites people who believe in inclusive education and "creates a powerful community voice" that challenges schools and families to keep seeking solutions and strategies.

To register for the PEAL Conference, call 412-281-4404 or visit www.pealcenter.org. Parent scholarships are available.

On Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., the conference will offer a screening of "Darius Goes West: The Roll of his Life," an award-winning documentary about a teen with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who travels cross-country in an RV with a group of college students to test accessibility in America.