Understanding Special Education

• Special education involves designing and delivering teaching and learning strategies for individuals with disabilities or learning difficulties, whether or not they are enrolled in regular schools
• Special education students include those with hearing or vision impairments, physical or intellectual disabilities, learning difficulties, behavioral disorders, emotional disturbance, or speech/language difficulties
• Special education provides specially designed instruction, support, and services to students with identified disabilities, requiring individually designed programs to meet their unique needs

What is Special Education

• Special education prepares teaching procedures, materials, and interventions to address the needs of children with learning differences, disabilities, and giftedness
• The goal of special education is to develop each child to their optimum potential, enabling them to become skillful, free, and able to manage their own lives and achieve their highest potential in society, as stated by UNESCO in 1988

Mission and Vision

• A common vision exists among the state, community, and family for Filipino children with special needs, envisioning them being adequately provided with basic education by the 21st century
• Education should enable these children to realize their potential for development, productivity, self-expression, and understanding of their rights
• It is envisioned that children with special needs will receive full parental and community support without discrimination, along with a healthy environment, leisure, recreation, and social security measures, according to the Department of Education handbook on inclusive education 2000

Goal of Special Education

• Special education aims to develop the maximum potential of children with special needs, enabling them to become self-reliant and have opportunities for a full and happy life

Specific Goal of Special Education

• Maximizing learning competencies and instilling values to make learners with special needs useful and effective members of society

Ultimate Goal of Special Education

• Integrating or mainstreaming learners with special needs into regular schools and eventually into the community

What is Inclusive Education

• Inclusive education educates children with disabilities and learning difficulties alongside normal children in the same classroom
• Inclusive education implies that all learners, with or without disabilities, can learn together through access to common schools and community educational settings supported by an appropriate network of services
• Education inclusion rejects special or segregated classrooms and schools

Goal of Inclusive Education

• Inclusive education fosters learning environments where individual needs are met and every student has an opportunity to succeed

Scope of Inclusive Education

• General education authorities are responsible for educating persons with disabilities in integrated settings
• Parental groups and organizations of persons with disabilities should be involved in the education process
• Special attention should be given to very young children and pre-school children with disabilities, and adults with disabilities, particularly women
• Policies should be clearly stated, understood, and accepted at the school and community level to accommodate educational provisions for persons with disabilities in the mainstream
• States should allow curriculum flexibility, addition, and adaptation, and provide quality materials, teacher training, and support teachers
• Special education may be considered if the general school system does not adequately meet the needs of all persons with disabilities

IDEA Timeline

• 1954: Brown vs. Board of Education paved the way for parents to advocate for children with special needs
• 1972: PARC vs. Commonwealth of PA ruled that mentally handicapped children have the right to a free and appropriate education
• 1975: PL 94-142 was passed, leading to 'mainstreaming' in the classroom
• 1980s: Educators recognized the inadequacies of PL 94-142, including lack of funding and issues with mainstreaming
• 1997: PL 94-142 became the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) after revisions and modifications
• 2004: IDEA was reauthorized by President George W. Bush, dealing specifically with the IEP or Individualized Education Plan

Basic Tenets of IDEA

• All students deserve both specialists' and classroom teachers' resources
• Students have a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment
• States monitor, enforce and assess IDEA
• Significant change in attitude is needed to focus on person-first, not disability-first
• Each student with special needs gets an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) developed by teachers, parents, professionals, and the student

IDEA Disability Categories for IEP Eligibility

• Autism
• Emotional Disturbance
• Specific Learning Disability
• Other Health Impairment (OHI)
• Speech/Language Impairment
• Multiple Disabilities
• Intellectual Disability
• Orthopedic Impairment
• Hearing Impairment
• Deaf-Blindness
• Deafness
• Visual Impairment/Blindness
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Developmental Delay

IDEA's Primary Principles

• Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) guarantees students with disabilities the right to free and appropriate education; schools must provide special students with access to FAPE to ensure the program is effective
• Appropriate Evaluation requires schools to closely examine children with potential disabilities following set rules and timelines; schools and parents use the evaluation results to make informed decisions about improving the child's education
• Every student on an IEP receives assistance from teachers tailored to their learning needs including social, emotional, and life skills, not just academic subjects
• Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) ensures students are placed with classmates without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate for their success in class
• Parent and Student Participation: IDEA and state regulations ensure that parents and legal guardians are equal partners with school staff in IEP team memberships, and students gain decision-making rights at age 18; schools must provide written records and meeting notices
• Procedural Safeguards ensure the rights of children with disabilities and their parents are protected, with access to information necessary for effective participation in the process

Inclusive Education in European Countries

• The concept of inclusive education is developing according to international education laws

Council Resolutions

• Council Resolutions concerning inclusion of children and youth with or without disabilities into mainstream and inclusive systems of education

UNESCO Salamanca Statement

• UNESCO Salamanca Statement and Framework for Action in Special Needs Education (1994)

UN Convention

• UN Convention on Right of the People with Disabilities (2006)

Inclusive Education in Africa

• According to Promoting the Right to Education for Children with Disability (n.d.) as used in White Paper 6), inclusive education and training means
• Acknowledging that all children and youth can learn and need support
• Enabling the education system to meet the needs of all learners
• Acknowledging and respecting differences in learners while building on similarities

Brazil

• The Ministry of Education is responsible for national policies of special education
• Moving from exclusion to inclusion
• Limited special consideration is received from private schools recognizing accommodations
• Educational achievements at age 14 dictate an individual's potential

China

• Appointed licensed teachers are required, and children must attend school for 9 years
• Instructions are Mandarin
• Children with special needs are encouraged to complete their education
• More money and inclusive education are provided

Saudi Arabia

• Education is divided into divisions for male and female students
• Focus is on Islam, and the curriculum is primarily taught in Arabic
• Students with special education needs are allowed to enroll in private, public, and international schools

South Africa

• Education is compulsory for children from 7 to 15 years old with 11 languages conducted, but English and Afrikaans.
• The Inaugural White Paper was in 2001 for public, private and special schools

Piaget's Cognitive Development

• Sensorimotor Stage (0-2 years old): infants use their senses and bodily objects to understand their surroundings and develop object permanence
• Pre-Operational Stage (2-7 years old): children can make mental presentations, pretend, and are close to using symbols
• Concrete Operational Stage (7-11 years old): children can think logically but only in terms of concrete objects
• Formal Operational Stage: children learn logical rules to understand abstract concepts and solve problems

Important Concepts of Cognitive Development

• Schema
• Assimilation
• Accommodation
• Equilibration

Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory

• Bandura posits that observation, imitation, and modeling are central to learning
• This theory blends behavioral and cognitive aspects, emphasizing the importance of good role models and the negative influence of poor ones

Four Phases of Learning

• Attention
• Retention
• Reproduction
• Motivation

Concepts of Social Learning Theory

• Vicarious Learning is observational learning or learning through modeling
• Self-regulated learning (SRL) is learning guided by metacognition and strategic action

Lev Vygotsky's Scaffolding

• Cognitive development is advanced through social interaction, especially with more skilled individuals
• Vygotsky is recognized for the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) and More Knowledgeable Other (MKO)

Jean Lave's Situated Learning Theory

• Knowledge should be presented in an authentic context involving its application
• Social interaction and collaboration are essential components

Philosophical Bases

• Inclusivity: the practice or policy of including people who might otherwise be excluded
• Equality: all people will be treated fairly, irrespective of their age, sex or race

4 Principles of Equality

• The right to recognition of equal worth and dignity
• The right to equality before the law
• The right to equal protection and benefit of the law
• The right to be treated with the same respect

Historical or Sociological Bases

• Convention on the Rights of the Child

Key Points of the UNCRC

• Right to Life, Survival, and Development (Article 6)
• Non-Discrimination (Article 2)
• Best Interests of the Child (Article 3)
• Right to a Name and Nationality (Article 7)
• Right to Be Heard (Article 12)
• Right to Education (Articles 28-29)
• Right to Health and Healthcare (Article 24)
• Right to Protection from Abuse and Exploitation (Articles 19, 32-36)
• Right to Family and Alternative Care (Articles 9-10, 20-21)
• Right to Play and Leisure (Article 31)
• Right to Protection in War and Armed Conflict (Articles 38-39)
• Responsibilities of Governments (Article 4)

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)

• UNESCO, established in 1945, promotes international collaboration in education, science, culture, and communication

Main Objectives & Focus Areas

• Education for All promotes quality education as a fundamental human right; supports universal access to education, especially for marginalized groups; and leads global initiatives like Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Global Citizenship Education (GCED)
• Scientific Cooperation & Sustainable Development advances scientific research and knowledge-sharing, and supports climate action, water management, and biodiversity conservation
• Cultural Heritage & Diversity Protection protects world heritage sites through the World Heritage Program, safeguards intangible cultural heritage, and promotes cultural dialogue
• Freedom of Expression & Media Development advocates for press freedom and journalist safety, promotes access to information and digital inclusion, and supports ethical journalism
• Promoting Peace & International Understanding encourages intercultural dialogue, supports initiatives in human rights, and works through educational programs.

Education for All (EFA)

• A global movement led by UNESCO, launched in 1990, to provide quality basic education to all, eliminating barriers to education, particularly in developing countries, and ensuring equal learning opportunities.

EFA's Six Goals (Dakar Framework for Action, 2000-2015)

• Expand Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) to improve access to quality pre-primary education
• Provide Free and Compulsory Primary Education for All to ensure all children can complete school
• Promote Learning and Life Skills for Young People and Adults to expand vocational training
• Increase Adult Literacy Rates to reduce adult illiteracy
• Achieve Gender Equality in Education to ensure equal enrollment and completion rates for boys and girls
• Improve the Quality of Education to enhance teacher training and curriculum development

Challenges and Gaps in Achieving EFA Goals

• Financial Barriers
• Gender Inequality
• Conflict and Displacement
• Quality of Education
• Dropout Rates

K-12 Inclusion Policy

• CORE PRINCIPLE promotes Institutional sensitivity and responsiveness to the realities of the learner
• POLICY PERSPECTIVE is realized through learner-centered and context responsive programs

Dimensions of K-12 Inclusion

• LEARNER: learner-oriented education, responsiveness to diverse learners, learner participation
• K TO 12 CURRICULUM: inclusion as a key standard
• DEVELOPMENT OF LEARNING RESOURCES: locally developed and contextualized learning
• LEARNING DELIVERY: options for learners based on context, background, and needs
• EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENT: recognizes particularities of learners
• LEARNING ENVIRONMENT: supports learning delivery, facilitates effective teaching, and protects learner's rights
• TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT for all teachers and continuous capacity development
• SCHOOL LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT: inclusive education as a perspective shall guide all schools

Legal Bases

• 1986 Phil. Constitution, Article XIV: the State shall protect the right of all citizens to quality education and make education accessible to all and provide training to citizens and youth
• R.A. 10533, Basic Education Act of 2013: Quality education development, defines education, provides special needs education
• R.A. 8371, Indigenous People's Rights Act: Rights of indigenous peoples to their domains, from exploitation; activity development with free prior requirements
• P.D. 603, Child and Youth Welfare Code: Policy that promotes youth welfare, defines and protects responsibilities abust or neglect
• R.A. 7610, Special Protection Against Child Abuse and Exploitation: Protection from penalties or forms of exploitation
• R.A. 9344, Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act: Rights and welfare of justice for children
• R.A. 9442, Magna Carta for Disabled Persons: Recognizes rights and access for the disabled
• R.A. 10665, Open High School System Act: Aims for equitable access to quality education and flexible online learning
• R.A. 7277, Rehabilitation and Integration of Disabled Persons in Mainstream Society: Integration and rehabilitation for disabilities.