Chapter 5 Exceptionality

1. Chapter 5 Exceptionality Jessica Corbin Steven Walker Kristin Spearman Marvin Fleming

2. Activity: Handwriting • Try writing with your Name with your opposite hand on the worksheet provided • Now look at the writing • How Long did it take you to write with the opposite hand? • How would you feel if you lost your dominate hand and were forced to learn to write with your opposite hand? • Would you feel bad if others picked at you because you couldn’t write as well and because you had trouble keeping up? • This is how students with learning disabilities feel

3. What Does Exceptionality Mean? When the word exceptional is being discussed most people only refer to those individuals that have disabilities but gifted individuals are also included in the definition. The term exceptional children includes: • Children who experience difficulties in learning • Children with superior performance • Children who need modifications in the classroom • Children with behavior problems • Children with sensory impairments • Children with a special talent • 25 million or more individuals from every ethnic and socioeconomic group fall into one or more of the categories of exceptionality.

4. Some Types of Exceptionalities • Some Exceptionalities prevalent in the classrooms today include • Learning Disabilities (Dyslexia) • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) • Autism • Gifted and Talented Students • Physical Disabilities • http://www.helpguide.org/mental/learning_disabilities.htm • Each of these students must have an Individual Education Program(IEP) – this is designed to meet the students unique needs.

5. Do you think Steven Walker has a disability? • Yes and No • Yes, because he does have a physical disability • No, because the government says that I am not disabled. • Because I function and live on my own I cannot be considered disabled.

6. Research on the Different Types of “Palsies” • Palsy- a medical term to describe the paralysis “or damage to the nervous system” in a body part. • Bell’s Palsy (BP)= paralysis in the face • Erb’s Palsy (EP)= paralysis in the arm • Also known as brachial palsy • Cerebral Palsy (CP)= paralysis in various parts of the body

7. An Example of Bell’s Palsy • The face is deformed (in a way) but it does not affect the entire body. • If a person has Bell’s palsy it means that they cannot control all of their facial expressions or just look a certain way. • Who is this actor to the right that has Bell’s Palsy?

8. Example of Erb’s Palsy

9. Example of Cerebral Palsy • Little mobility where the person can’t be active in sports. • Slight problem with speech • But there are many others things in life than being physically active. • This is my little cousin Shanin, born with Cerebral Palsy.

10. Court Cases: Brown Vs. Board of Education • The 1954 United States Supreme Court decision in Oliver L. Brown et.al. v. the Board of Education of Topeka (KS) is among the most significant judicial turning points in the development of our country. • it dismantled the legal basis for racial segregation in schools and other public facilities. • Brown v. Board of Education was not simply about children and education. The laws and policies struck down by this court decision were products of the human tendencies to prejudge, discriminate against, and stereotype other people by their ethnic, religious, physical, or cultural characteristics. • Linda Brown’s name was the first name listed on the suit and the case became known as Brown v. Board of education. • The Case eventually found its way to the supreme court.

11. Public Laws • Section 504 of Public Law 93-112 • Prohibits the exclusion from programs solely on the basis of an individuals disability • Public Law 94-142 • The Education for all Handicapped Children Act

12. Americans with Disabilities Act • The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed July 26, 1990 as Public Law and became effective on January 26, 1992. • The ADA is landmark federal legislation that opens up services and employment opportunities to the 43 million Americans with disabilities. • The law was written to strike a balance between the reasonable accommodation of citizens' needs and the capacity of private and public entities to respond. • It is not an affirmative action law but is intended to eliminate illegal discrimination and level the playing field for disabled individuals.

13. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) • The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law enacted in 1990 and reauthorized in 1997.  • It is designed to protect the rights of students with disabilities by ensuring that everyone receives a free appropriate public education (FAPE), regardless of ability. • IDEA strives not only to grant equal access to students with disabilities, but also to provide additional special education services and procedural safeguards.

14. Educational Implications • Exceptional children are more like normal children than they are different. • They need to meet the same basic needs in Abraham Maslow’s theory of self actualization. They include: • psychological • safety • belongingness • love • esteem • Teachers should treat students with disabilities as normal students not overprotecting them or giving and doing more for them than is needed or deserved.

15. Communication, Acceptance and Freedom • Although these children may have limitations to what they can and cannot do does not mean they can’t have the same experiences as those with no exceptional students • They just share these experiences in different ways. • They need freedom to grow • They need straight and honest communication about what they have and what they can and cannot do. • Teachers need to reflect an open, accepting and positive attitude for exceptional students in the classroom. They need acceptance and understanding

16. What is Inclusion? • Inclusion is the placement of exceptional students in the regular classrooms. • It is being included in life and participating using one's abilities in day to day activities as a member of the community. • it is being a part of what everyone else is, and being welcomed and embraced as a member who belongs. • http://www.kidstogether.org/inclusion.htm • This includes the concept of normalization – making available to all persons with disabilities or other handicaps, patterns of life and conditions of everyday living which are as close as possible to or the same as regular circumstances and ways of life of society.

17. Inclusion • Allows the students to gain a sense of belonging in the classroom. • Students still receive main education in a segregated class • Students with disabilities need to be integrated regardless of their ability to meet traditional standards • Different from full inclusion

18. Do You think Inclusion should be included in the public school systems?

19. Inclusion • For • It is as immoral, to discriminate students with disabilities as the segregation of a student because of the color of their skin. • We have the know how to deliver quality educational services for every child in an inclusive general educational classroom. • Against • Full inclusion may work for some students but it makes no sense to force it on all students with disabilities. • Some students with disabilities lack the maturity, cognitive ability or social skills to function in general education.

20. What do you think causes disabilities?

21. Contributing Variables • Poverty • Over referrals – the practice of excessive or disproportioned referrals to special education of particular groups of children. Typically those that are: • African American • Latino • American Indian • Under-Referrals – disproportionally low referrals by teachers of children for specific programs or activities. Especially of placement of students that are gifted and talented or advance placement • Racial bias • Unexplained…

22. Exceptional Jeopardy! • Two teams • Chose team Captain • Pick a color and Number • Host reads Answer • Player gives Question • Team with the most points wins.

23. Thank You! • We Hope you enjoyed our presentation! Treats for everyone! Jessica Corbin Steven Walker Kristin Spearman Marvin Fleming