Special Education Overview by Franca Vella

Introduction

• Speaker: Franca Vella, Special Education Teacher
• Audience: Parents, General Education Teachers, Special Education Teachers, Students

Purpose of Special Education

• Educate students by addressing specific needs
• Build upon strengths and identify weaknesses (e.g., mathematics)
• Provide supports to help students succeed

History

• Disabled children once excluded and placed in institutions
• Now protected by law
• Issue of stigma from labels leading to feelings of shame
• Soft bigotry of low expectations from teachers

Eligibility for Special Education Services

• Starts with a referral
• Schools obligated to find children with disabilities
• Comprehensive evaluation with psychometric tests
• IEP team determines eligibility
  • 14 identified disability categories
  • Disability must adversely affect education
• Creation and compliance with IEP
• Annual meetings required

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)

• Cascade of services in various educational settings
  • Most time with non-disabled peers: general education classroom
  • Mixed settings: special education classes part-time
  • Full-time special education classes
  • All-special-education school
  • Homebound/residential setting (most restrictive)

Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

• Legal document for students with disabilities
• Components:
  • Statement of services
  • Measurable short-term and long-term goals
  • Present level of educational performance
  • Projected dates for services
  • Accommodations for state testing
  • Transition and post-secondary life plan (age 16+)

Major Legislation

• Public Law 94-142: Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
• IDEA: Equity, accountability, RTI
• No Child Left Behind: School choice, annual progress
• ESSA: State power over standards, retains standardized testing policies

Classroom Instruction

Modifications

• Changing content/learning goals
  • Alternative reading materials
  • Retake quizzes and corrections
  • Word banks for exams
  • Reduced number of questions on tests

Accommodations

• Changing the way content is accessed
  • Preferential seating
  • Books on tape
  • Extended time/testing
  • Open notebooks during tests

Teaching Strategies

• Differentiated instruction: Content, process, product
• Formative assessment to track progress
• Graphic organizers for concept connections
• Questioning techniques
• Problem-solving strategies
• Reminders using technology
• Cognitive rigor in lesson objectives

Classroom Environment Adaptations

• Limit visual distractions
• Create/enforce speaker rules
• Use labels for organization
• Provide class schedules
• Relaxing music
• Protocols for common actions (bathroom, sharpening pencils)
• Proper lighting
• Preferential seating for special needs students

Behavior Intervention Strategies

• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
• Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBAs)
• Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) based on ABC data
• Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support systems (PBIS)

Assistive Technology

• Excludes surgically implanted medical devices
• Examples: Specialized wheelchairs, apps, pencil grips, voice activation
• Aims to increase productivity, performance, learning

Curriculum

• Emergent Curriculum: Projects inspired by student interest
• Functional Curriculum: Basic living and vocational skills
• Higher-order thinking skills for challenge
• Slower curriculum pace
• Cooperative learning for soft skills

Inclusion Movement

• Belief in including special needs students in general education
• Schools responsible for making it work with supports
• Alternative paths to diplomas if needed

Relationships with Families

• Build relationships with families of special needs students
• Create safe, supportive environment
• Professional meetings
• Address family concerns
• Inform parents of rights
• Provide advocacy pamphlets

Conclusion

• Reminder to like, share, subscribe
• Description links for resources

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