Special Education: Everything You Need to Know

Summary

This video by special education teacher Franca Vella offers a comprehensive guide on special education, targeting parents, teachers, and students. It covers the purpose, history, and eligibility for special education services, including the IEP process. The video delves into the least restrictive environment, major legislation, classroom instruction strategies, behavior interventions, assistive technology, and the importance of building relationships with families of special needs students. It emphasizes the inclusion movement and the need for differentiated instruction to support the unique learning needs of students.

Takeaways

• 📚 Special Education is designed to address the specific needs of students, enhancing their strengths and providing support for weaknesses.
• 🏫 The history of special education evolved from exclusion to legal protection, ensuring disabled children's right to education.
• 🏷️ Labels can stigmatize special education students, leading to feelings of shame and resentment, and sometimes causing 'soft bigotry of low expectations' among teachers.
• 📋 Eligibility for special education services begins with a referral, followed by a comprehensive evaluation and determination by an IEP team based on specific criteria.
• 📝 An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is a legal document for eligible students, detailing services, goals, current performance levels, accommodations, and transition plans.
• 🔍 The Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) principle aims to place special education students in settings with the maximum amount of interaction with non-disabled peers.
• 📈 Major legislation such as Public Law 94-142, IDEA, and No Child Left Behind has shaped the current system of special education, focusing on equity, accountability, and improved educational opportunities.
• 🔄 Modifications in the classroom involve changes to content or learning goals for special education students, such as alternative reading materials or opportunities to retake quizzes.
• 🛠️ Accommodations are adjustments that help special education students access content or tests, like preferential seating or extended time during assessments.
• 👨‍🏫 Teaching strategies for special education should include differentiated instruction, formative assessments, graphic organizers, questioning techniques, and the use of technology.
• 🤝 The inclusion movement advocates for the placement of students with disabilities in general education classrooms, supported by appropriate accommodations and modifications.

Q & A

What is the primary goal of special education?

The primary goal of special education is to educate students in a way that addresses their specific needs, building upon their strengths and providing support for their weaknesses to help them succeed in those areas.

How has the history of special education evolved?

The history of special education evolved from a time when disabled children were excluded from education and placed in institutions to a present where children are protected by law and have access to education tailored to their needs.

Why do some special education students feel a stigma from being labeled?

Some special education students feel a stigma because the label can cause them to feel shame and resentment towards the school system, which may also lead to teachers having low expectations of their abilities.

What is the process for students to become eligible for special education services?

The process starts with a referral, followed by a comprehensive evaluation using psychometric tests. An IEP team is formed to determine eligibility based on whether the child falls into one of the 14 identified disabled categories and if the disability adversely affects their education.

What are the two criteria points for determining eligibility for special education services?

The two criteria points are: first, the child must fall into one of the 14 identified disabled categories; second, the disability must be adverse to the child's education.

What is the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) in special education?

The LRE describes a cascade of services for students, emphasizing various educational settings that special education students are placed in, with the least restrictive environment being one where a special education student spends most of their time with non-disabled peers.

What is an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and why is it important?

An IEP is a legal document for students classified as having a disability. It details the types of services the child will receive, has both short-term and long-term goals, describes the present level of educational performance, and includes accommodations and modifications to ensure the student's success.

What are some examples of legislation that has shaped the system of special education?

Examples of legislation include Public Law 94-142 (Education for All Handicapped Children Act), IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), No Child Left Behind, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, which ensure equity, accountability, and appropriate education for special needs students.

How can classroom instruction be adapted to better suit the needs of special education students?

Classroom instruction can be adapted through modifications such as alternative reading materials, opportunities to retake quizzes, and providing word banks on exams. Accommodations like preferential seating, extended time during testing, and open notebooks during tests can also be implemented.

What is the role of assistive technology in special education?

Assistive technology plays a crucial role in increasing productivity, performance, and learning for special education students. It includes devices like specialized wheelchairs, switches, controls, various apps, pencil grips, voice activation calculators, and more.

What strategies can be used to create a positive classroom environment for special education students?

Strategies include limiting visual distractions, creating and enforcing speaker rules, providing class schedules for organization, using relaxing music to settle the classroom, ensuring proper lighting, and prioritizing special needs students in seating arrangements.