The Purpose and Promise of Special Education PDF

The Purpose and Promise of Special Education By Eleana Charalambous Thi s Photo by Unknown Author i s l icensed under CC BY-NC-ND Learning Objectives By the end of this class, you should be able to: 1. Examine the purpose and promise of special education Wai...

The Purpose and Promise of Special Education By Eleana Charalambous Thi s Photo by Unknown Author i s l icensed under CC BY-NC-ND Learning Objectives By the end of this class, you should be able to: 1. Examine the purpose and promise of special education Wait time Why did you choose this course? Exceptional Children Exceptional Children (1 of 5) Differences Among All Children Children vary in physical attributes and learning abilities. Most differences are minor, allowing benefit from general education programs.  Exceptional Children (2 of 5) Definition of Exceptional Children Physical and/or learning characteristics differ significantly from the norm (below or above average). Require individualized programs of special education and related services. Includes children with: Learning or behavior problems. Physical disabilities or sensory impairments. Superior intellectual abilities or special talents.  Exceptional Children (3 of 5) Exceptional Children vs. Students with Disabilities Exceptional Children: Includes both children with disabilities and gifted/talented children. Students with Disabilities: A narrower term excluding gifted and talented children.  Exceptional Children (4 of 5) Categories of Exceptionality Intellectual disabilities Learning disabilities Emotional or behavioral disorders Autism Spectrum Disorder Speech or language impairments Hearing impairments Visual impairments Physical or health impairments Traumatic brain injury Multiple disabilities Giftedness and special talents The UAE context  Exceptional Children (5 of 5) Importance of Individualized Programs Exceptional children require specially designed educational programs to succeed. These programs must address their unique needs to ensure full educational benefit. Impact of Recognition and Support Recognizing and addressing differences is crucial for a child’s success in school and beyond. Exceptional children share more similarities than differences with peers but require tailored support. Other terminologies Impairment. Reduced abilities or loss of an organ. E.g., loss of vision, hearing Disability. Disability exists when impairment limits the function of the person. Impairment leads to disability. Handicapped. Not appropriate term to use. However, it means that disability has affected the ability of an individual to participate in activities. At risk children. Children due to biological or environmental factors could experience developmental or behavioural problems. E.g. refugee children, children from poor backgrounds, children living with HIV/AIDS. In the UAE In April 2017, the term ‘People of Determination’ was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as part of his national strategy for empowering people with disabilities. “Disability is in fact the inability to make progress and achievements. The achievements that people of determination have made in various spheres over the past years are proof that determination and strong will can do the impossible and encourage people to counter challenges and difficult circumstances while firmly achieving their goals”. Thi s Photo by Unknown Author i s l icensed under CC BY-NC-ND Teaching exceptional students Teaching students with disability is a preparation to teach the most difficult students. Students with disabilities have an impairment which require additional support. This means that special talent and skills are required to be able to provide teaching support to students with disabilities. Teaching students with disabilities requires flexibility and preparation to experiment new strategies. Teaching students require knowledge of the general curricular and its modification. Developing goals and collaborating with other stakeholders. Labelling and classifications in classrooms Labeling and classification of exceptional children Labelling is important to determining children who require special services. Once a child is suspected to be having a disability, he or she ought to be formally diagnosed by an appropriate professional (e.g., psychiatrists, audiologists, therapists etc). After the diagnoses, the professional can classify the student into any of the categories (e.g., hearing or visual impairments). Level of severity (mild, moderate, severe and profound) of a particular condition will differ. In view of this, a professional has to classify such a child in order to determine the learning support required by the student. Once such labelling and classification have been done, the child could access special education services. Advantages of labelling classification Disadvantages of labelling Helps to recognize real Stigmatization and negative difference. attitudes Helps in communication and evaluation People tend to focus on what an individual cannot do. Helps in targeted service provision Affect the self-esteem of Helps in teachers to teach to suit children who have been the uniqueness of all. diagnosed. Special Education Special Education Definition – Exceptional children require special education. Special education is form of education governed by a set of laws, procedures to reduce barriers to access to a category of children. Both general classroom teachers and trained special educators could provide special education to all children. Other professionals such as speech therapists, psychiatrists, social workers, psychologists, counsellors, occupational therapists, audiologists provide education related services to exceptional children and teachers. Curriculum and Special Education All teachers are expected to use curricular in their teaching and service delivery to students. However, in terms of special education, a modified version of the curricular is used in the delivery of lessons. In teaching exceptional children, teachers follow a specialized curricular. In most instance, an individualized education plan (IEP) are designed for exceptional children.  The UAE context - IEP Purpose of an IEP Enhances the impact of intervention for students of determination. Acts as a continuous and collaborative process of development, implementation, and review. Development of an IEP Informed by results from assessments. Created by a collaborative team involving teachers, parents, specialists, and the student. Tailored to each student’s unique abilities, skills, challenges, and interests. Key Components of an IEP Measurable goals. Modifications and support strategies to lower learning barriers. Plans to address specific challenges, including transitions. Implementation of an IEP In-school specialists may lead development but classroom teachers are responsible for implementation. Teachers must be equipped to carry out the IEP and be accountable for its classroom impact. Significance of an IEP Forms the cornerstone of quality education for students of determination. Ensures progress by addressing individual needs effectively. Special education and learning support In most instance, teachers could modify their These includes the use of instructions or use special assistive devices, sign method to support the language, differentiation learning of exceptional and personalized learning. children. Law and Special Education Laws govern our society. Without rules and regulations, there will be chaos, anarchy and confusion in our society. When there are laws in the society, everyone will be protected and live peacefully with others in the society. In education also, there should also be rules and regulation promoting equal access to all. This is particularly important because education has been identified as a fundamental human rights. In view of this, all persons should be given the chance to have access. Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Article 26 – The Right to Education Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children. Previously, there was no In almost all countries, laws governing the they were not given the education of exceptional chance to have access to children. education. However, with the need This contributed to their to include all persons in rejection, poverty, the society, countries unemployment and began to make laws to dependence on other promote their education. people in the society. UAE context In the UAE, there are both local and international laws governing the education of exceptional children. UAE is a member of international bodies and organizations and committed towards promoting the education for all. The UAE government will look at international instruments and make laws for its citizens with exceptional educational needs.  International laws and statements Universal Declaration of Human United Nations Convention on the Salamanca statement Rights Rights of Children with Disabilities 1986 2000 2015 1947 1994 2006 Convention on the Rights of The sustainable development Educational for all Children agenda  UAE laws Cabinet Resolution No. (7) of 2010 Federal Law No. (29) of 2006 Concerning (Concerning Non-governmental Federal Law No. (3) of 2016 on child rights the Rights of Persons with Disabilities organizations Providing Care and (Wadeema's law) Habilitation to Persons with Disabilities. 2009 2014 2022 2006 2010 2016 Federal Decree No. (116) of 2009 (Ratifying Law No. (2) of 2014 (Concerning Protection the comprehensive and integral Law No. (3) of 2022 (Law on the Rights of of Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the International Convention on Protection and People of Determination in Dubai) Emirates of Dubai) Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities) Educational environment for exceptional children Thi s Photo by Unknown Author i s l icensed under CC BY-SA-NC Educational environment for exceptional children Exception children should, In UAE, exceptional as much as possible, be children must be provided educated alongside age- an education in the least appropriate peers without restrictive environment. disabilities. Post on the discussion forum on blackboard What do you understand by special education and children with exceptional needs? Post on blackboard by: 31 st of January (11pm) 2 marks