Essential Insights into Special Education: Understanding Exceptional Students

1. An Overview of Special Education Chapter 1

2. Who Are Exceptional Students? • An exceptional student is one whose needs are not being met by traditional educational programs, so that a special education program is necessary.

3. What Basic Terminology is Used? • Impairment • Loss or abnormality of a psychological, physiological or anatomical structure or function • Disability • Limitation that is inherent in the individual as a result of an impairment • Handicap • What is caused when an individual encounters a situation based on external factors

4. Autism Deaf-Blindness Developmental Delay Emotional Disturbance Hearing Impairment Mental Retardation Multiple Disabilities Other Health Impairment Orthopedic Impairment Specific Learning Disability Speech/Language Impairment Traumatic Brain Injury Visual Impairment What Are the Special Education Categories?

5. What is the Prevalence of Exceptional Students? • Approximately 15% of students K-12 • Approximately 8,000,000 (including gifted and talented) are receiving services under IDEA 04 • Learning Disabilities = about 45% • Speech/Language Impairment = about 20% • Other Health Impaired= about 9% • Mental Retardation = about 8% • Emotional Disturbance = about 8%

6. Percentage of Students Ages 6-17 by Disability Category Receiving IDEA PART B Services in the Fall 2005 School Year (Figure 1.1)

7. Percentage Increase/Decrease of Students with Disabilities Ages 6-12, from 1993 to 2005 (Figure 1.2)

8. What is the Definition of Special Education? • Instruction specifically designed to meet the needs of students with exceptionalities • A service, not a place • Includes four components: • Instructional content • Instructional procedures • Instructional environment • Instructional technology

9. What is Universal Design? • Refers to the development of environments that are accessible to everyone, including buildings, curricula, materials, computer programs, etc.

10. Elements of Universal Design (Table 1.1)

11. What are Related Services? • Activities or services that enable a child with a disability to receive a free, appropriate public education and to benefit from the special education program

12. Transportation Speech-language Pathology & Audiology Services Interpreting Services Psychological Services Physical Therapy Occupational Therapy Parent Counseling & Training Recreation Early Identification & Assessment Counseling (including Rehab Counseling) Orientation & Mobility Medical Services for Diagnostic or Evaluation Purposes School Health Social Work Services What are Some Types of Related Services?

13. What is the History of Special Education? • Egypt - Individuals with disabilities were treated using spiritual healings, amulets, and incantations. • Sparta – Individuals with disabilities were frequently thrown into the river or abandoned in the wild. • In the 4th century Christians treated individuals with disabilities more compassionately. • In the 17th century interest increased in individuals who were deaf or blind. • In the 18th century more humane treatment began. • In the 19th century the first special education classes began. • Although the 20th century began negatively, positive advances eventually occurred.

14. How Did Litigation Affect Special Education Services? • PARC v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania • Mills v. Board of Education • Larry P. v. Riles

15. What is Some Important Legislation? • Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112) • Education for All Handicapped Children Act (P.L. 94-142) • Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-457) • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (P.L. 101-476) • Americans with Disabilities Act (P.L. 101-336) • No Child Left Behind (P.L. 107-110) • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (P. L. 108-446)

16. Representative Court Cases Focusing on Discriminatory Assessment Practices (Table 1.3)

17. Early Laws Affecting the Field of Special Education (Table 1.4)

18. What are the EHA / IDEA Requirements? • Free, appropriate public education • Child Find • Individualized education programs • Least restrictive environment • Procedural guidelines • Evaluation procedures • Transition • Participation in assessments

19. Discipline of Students with Disabilities Highly Qualified Teachers What are some Current Controversial Issues Regarding IDEA 04?

20. Are Any Groups Overrepresented? • Culturally diverse students • Those who come from backgrounds that are not primarily Western European • Linguistically diverse students • Those whose primary language is not English

21. What is Meant by Early Intervention Services? • All states must provide a “statewide, comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency” system that provides early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families including a multidisciplinary evaluation and an IFSP.

22. What is the General Education Teacher’s Role? • Create a positive and supportive classroom • Collaborate • Collaborative consultation • Cooperative teaching