Special Education Accommodations Assist Students to Access the General Education Curriculum

Special Education accommodations are a very important part of a child's Individualized Education Program (IEP). There is a section of the IEP for accommodations and modifications. It is important for parents of children with special needs to know this section exists and to know how accommodations may help their child. An accommodation is a sensible adjustment to teaching practices to make school more equitable for a child with special needs. There are three primary types of accommodations: setting, response method and presentation.

Setting accommodations are changes made to the environment to help a child with special needs be more successful. Many children with special needs have issues related to attention and group size. Seating a child in a certain area of the classroom or away from certain distractions in the classroom, such as a door or a loud heater can have a significant impact on a child's ability to listen and follow along with the lesson. Some children with special needs get lost or overwhelmed in a large classroom and need to receive instruction or take exams in a smaller setting.

Response method accommodations are variations in how the child with special needs will complete assignments. Many children with special needs have fine motor delays and using a computer or dictation software is the only way they write legibly. Some children with special needs have excellent comprehension of material but struggle to complete worksheets or tests so they may be allowed to complete some assignments or tests orally rather than in writing. Many children with special needs are not able to read on grade level so they may be allowed to listen to an audio presentation of a book instead of physically reading.

Presentation accommodations are things the teacher does to assist a child with special needs to access the curriculum in a more understandable way. Many children with special needs struggle with note taking and knowing what to study for a test, so they may receive a copy of the teacher's notes and a study guide for a test. Another area that many children with special needs have difficulty with is spacial awareness so they may have special paper to assist them in writing correctly or graph paper to help them line up their problems correctly.

Accommodations are strategies used to help children with special needs have the ability to achieve a level of success in school similar to their neurotypical peers. Accommodations are often referred to as ways to level the playing field so that children with special needs can experience progress at an acceptable rate. Which accommodations are used for your child depends on their disability and their areas of significant deficit.

Parental Rights in Special Education

Parental rights in special education in the United States are called procedural safeguards. The federal law, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) lays the foundation for parental rights. Each state adopts their own procedural safeguards based on the guidelines laid out in IDEA. I am asked quite often about three parental rights. One of your parental rights is the right to ask for an independent educational evaluation if you disagree with an evaluation that the school district conducts. Another parental right afforded to you is your right to review your child's educational records. Another parental right is the right to file a due process claim and have an independent hearing if you disagree with the Individualized Education Program (IEP) or the IEP process.

When your child is initially referred to special education and you give permission to the school district to evaluate your child, several formal and informal assessments are conducted to determine if your child meets the criteria for receiving special education services. Re-evaluations to determine if your child remains eligible for special education services are also conducted every three years or more often if the parent requests it or the school district feels it is necessary. If you disagree with an assessment completed by the school district, you have the right to request that an independent evaluation be completed at no expense to you. You must have a valid reason for your disagreement with the evaluation and you need to follow the district's process spelled out in your procedural safeguards handout to receive the independent evaluation.

You also have the right to inspect and review your child's educational records. There are often many records kept on your child other than the formal reports you receive such as the IEP progress reports and the report card. You may put in a formal request to view all of your child records. This could include observations of your child, classroom data regarding behavior and academic progress, informal assessments, discipline records, parent contact records and staff records. If you wish to review your child's records, you usually need to submit your request in writing per the procedural safeguards protocol.

Another procedural safeguard is that you (or the school district) have the right to file a due process claim and receive a hearing by an unbiased hearing officer if you disagree with something in the IEP or during the IEP process. If you have a disagreement with the school district about the IEP or the IEP process, it is best to attempt to work it out with the district. If you do not believe that your disagreement was adequately addressed and you still believe that part of the IEP is inappropriate or inadequate, that the IEP is not being followed, that the IEP process was not conducted according to the law and/or that you or your child were denied something that is your right follow the district's procedure for filing a due process claim.

Learning in a Special Education Environment

Any child that has a need for guided education whether it is because of a mental or physical disability deserves to have the same chance in life and school as other children. Sometimes when a parent knows their child needs regulated special guidance on education, they don't want their child to be singled out. They don't want to have to have special arrangements. They want their child to be given attention without losing the same equality as other students.

Learning in a regulated special guidance on education is often required. It is design though not to restrict the children, but give them all the opportunity to succeed. Parents can rest assured that often it is the law that all children will have the best opportunities to succeed in education even if special education is needed. Sometimes students needing education need a complete special education curriculum while others just need various elements with education.

The student might have learning disabilities and needs extra attention to help them understand the lessons, to stay up with other students. Other students could be emotionally challenged and need special attention to help them accomplish goals. Then there are various physical disabilities that can cause the student to need more extensive assistance for their special education curriculum.

Often the definition of those being eligible for specialized education is provided by the state as well as the federal government. Depending on the disability there are various services available. Parents are asked to keep in mind that education environments are set up to benefit the child with a disability and provide them with more of an advantage than they would have otherwise got.

A specialized education environment is set up to benefit the classmates. It might be that is it more wheelchairs accessible to having equipment to help students with certain issues along with a teacher trained to help with these issues. Having specialized training will best benefit the child as an individual compared to a teacher in the traditional classroom with 19 other students that don't have a disability or a class room with a few others that need special attention as well.

There is often an Individualized Education Plan put in place for the student. This allows the student to get assistance and education that is geared toward their needs in a way that will best benefit them. Talk with the school administrators, teachers and your child's teacher to help design the best options for your child.

Journal Of Special Education

Reading written journals on special education can help, for the articles can give you an in-depth insight to the true nature of teaching special children and what is involved. You will read about things you need to know as a teacher, parent, or specialist handling children with special needs. This is because the journals are written by scholars, recognized individuals and key persons in the field.

The Journal of Special Education is a written periodical that tackles the subject of special education. In it, you can find comprehensive discussions, reviews and commentaries, sample interventions in dealing with special children, outlined procedures concerning special students and timely research and in-depth analysis on matters concerning special education.

You do not need to buy published journals on special education just to get your hands on one, for there are available sources and links online that contain reliable research and discussions. Sample articles that you can find in online journals are practical applications and strategic teaching methods that you can use to educate special children formulated theories that address key issues on teaching children and individuals with special needs, source of advocacy or integrated network listing of disability and educational information, comprehensive guide on teaching individuals with special needs and selected reviews and data that can guide you in determining the needs of your students.

These are only some sample contents that you can obtain in electronic journals regarding special education. Whatever resource you use, the ideas and concepts gathered, plus the solutions presented, can help you become sensitive to the needs of your students and be quick in responding to them.

Special Education Scholarship Options and Ways to Get Funding

For those who are interested in going into teaching special education, there are a variety of scholarships available in both individual states and nationwide around the US. Because this is a growing career field, there are many organizations who are giving away money to help fund students who wish to pursue a career as a special education teacher. To save on all of the college expenses which seem to pile up endlessly, you will need to have a thorough and comprehensive list of potential scholarships which you can apply to. It is a noble thing to help those who are in need and salaries for teachers are not as attractive as other professions.

The Kelli Stackhouse Scholarship is just one of the many being given out all across the country. It is for undergraduate students who are specializing in the study of special education. They will study both your leadership and academic achievements. The money awarded begins at five hundred dollars and some students will receive higher amounts.

There is also the Weaver Endowed scholarship. If you are majoring in special education and want to specialize with children that are deaf, you may be eligible. Remember to follow the deadlines for any scholarship as being late is going to often disqualify you. There is also the Ward Family scholarship Fund which is given to older undergraduates. If you are a junior or senior student this is aimed at you, however you will need to show good grades as well as financial need to receive this award.

Remember that there are always new scholarships being given away to students all over the country by organizations that are associated to special education or disabled people. The more scholarships you apply to, the more you will increase your chances of getting one. Some financial awards will have certain requirements for teaching in the future. They are well worth it considering how helpful the financial assistance can be. With the increasing of tuition for colleges and universities nationwide, it is important now more than ever to get the help you need to complete your education and get the degree plus future you deserve. You'll be helping kids and should be proud of your aspiration.

Special Education For Disabled Children

During the first years of a child's life, the brain is still malleable and able to form important connections so that the child can learn a wide variety of information and abilities. However, if the child suffers from an illness, injury, or condition that causes a disability, it can interfere with his or her ability absorb information in the same way as non-disabled children. Special education classes can help children with disabilities learn in a way tailored to their needs.

In 1975, the U.S. government first legally addressed special education in public schools with the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, or EHA. This included both physically and mentally handicapped children. The act stated that all schools receiving public funding must have programs specifically created for special needs children. These lesson plans were developed with the help of parents so that disabled children had as much of a normal education as possible. The EHA was renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1990.

Later, in 2004, the government recognized the need to amend IDEA so that it better met the needs of disabled children and their education. This was called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, or IDEIA. IDEIA was signed into being in late 2004, and it was adopted in all states by 2006.

To better address the education of disabled children, the federal governments' IDEIA changed the law so that states could apply for grants and other financial aid to help them develop special education programs in public schools. In addition, these funds can help with things like training special education teachers and buying technology necessary to help some students learn.

Under the IDEIA, the government also outlined potentially disabling problems more clearly. However, it is important to keep in mind that these disabilities affect children differently, meaning that a disabling case of Autism may prevent one child from learning in a regular classroom, while another child may be able to succeed in a regular classroom. Thus, it is up to parents as well as doctors and counselors to determine the best way to address a child's educational needs.

Online College Degree in Special Education

Children with special needs require teachers who are well-qualified to cater to their needs. If you aspire to pursue a career involving mentally or physically challenged children and bringing about change in their lives by developing their learning abilities, an online degree in special education can be appropriate.

This course will train you mental retardation and learning disabilities, speech and language impairments, emotional disturbances, hearing or visual impairment, and autism of special children. The initial qualification required for developing a career in this field is similar to that of K-12 teachers. But you also need to opt for specialization training in this education.

Types of Online Degrees in Special Education

An online associate degree in this cours has a comprehensive curriculum which will help you to become special education teaching aides, developmental specialists and learning disability specialists. With this degree, you can also work as a teaching assistant using interactive technology and equipment in elementary, middle and high schools.

The coursework includes principles of this degree is child growth and development, abnormal psychology and family and community in exceptionality. The minimum qualification for this course is bachelor degree. The coursework includes related areas like creation of curriculum, strategic management of disruptive behavior, usage of technology in the learning experience.

Some of the specialization areas in special education are educational psychology, learning and behavior disabilities, legal issues of special education and child growth and development. Training in special therapy is also offered like speech therapy, adaptive PE, occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling, vocational training, self-help assistance, and special transportation. Others training provided include developing an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) for each student so that you are aware of the expectations and evaluation modalities which suits best for the child with special needs.

What Makes Special Education So Special

Special education is defined as specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities. These types of students can range from partially to severely disabled. Until you have a child requiring special education you can not appreciate the tremendous job the educators who work with these kids do.

Most schools provide some level of special education if your child has a learning disability on any particular area. Some have a full time staff who specialize in various areas to help children. Depending on the severity you may be faced with enrolling your child in a special needs school. This is something you will have to discuss with your teachers and school administrators.

There are many excellent online resources for parents to research and learn things they can do to help their child as well. Just Google searching the keyword phrase "special education" will bring up thousands of results to get you started. Most parents want to be involved in helping their kids and the internet is becoming a big help in this area. One thing you can do is sign up for as many free email newsletters on the subject of special education to easily be kept up to date on a weekly and monthly basis.

One of the primary problems parents and kids both face, when it comes to educating their kids who require special needs, is how to let them interact with other kids. Social development is certainly important to the growth of a child, many times as much so as education itself. It is generally in the best interest of your child to interact with other kids as often as possible.

Of course a common problem is how to deal with insensitive comments made to you child by other kids. As a parent it is only natural to try and protect your child, when it fact it may be better to let them learn how to handle things themselves. Most kids will seek out and want to play and be around other kids who accept them for who they are.

This is an important step in the development in the education of your child. Overall it is important to let your child interact with other kids as early and often as possible. Only step in when you feel it is really necessary and in the long run you are doing your child a favor.

This has been a quick overview on special education and what you can do as a parent to be more involved. The development of special needs children in many ways is more rewarding than other children and knowing you played a role in that is a feeling you will never replace.

Special Education Teaching Jobs

Those in special education teaching jobs work with students who have needs that can't be met in a regular classroom. Some students may have autism or intellectual or emotional challenges, prevent them from reaching their potential without the assistance of a specially trained teacher. In some cases, students may be blind or deaf but still need to learn basic life skills such as cooking, shopping or buying a home. This teachers can adjust classroom lessons to meet the requirements of a wide variety of students who face learning challenges.

Jobs in special education teaching include working one on one with severely handicapped students, being part of a team at a deaf school or hospital, using music therapy. Some spend all their time in administrative positions or helping to educate or mentor other education teaches. Although most of those in jobs in education teaching work with students who only have minor disabilities, others have additional training so they can work with children who have speech or language problems. Still others help prepare IEPs (individualized education plans) which provide other teachers with information about how classrooms need to be modified to help students learn to their maximum potential.

There are even special education teaching opportunities available in hospitals, mental health facilities and doctors' offices. Candidates may often work with emotionally disturbed children or those with learning challenges. There could be an overlap between medical and emotional issues, making regular communication between teachers and doctors a priority. Some jobs are permanent and others are temporary. Most teachers who work with children who have emotional issues get special certification or a Master's degree in the field.

Requirements for that education teaching jobs can vary from state to state, as can the types of jobs available. In Washington, DC, for example, those seeking employment could check with the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. It oversees Gallaudet Univeristy, a college for deaf students, as well as the American Printing House for the Blind. Special education teachers can contact this office to get leads on possible job opportunities. Teaching jobs can include being teachers' assistants, working as aides or being a teacher without special certification.

There are a huge variety of careers in education teaching. They include adaptive physical education teachers, individuals who can alter the regular physical education requirement so that blind, deaf or physically handicapped children can take part in the classes. These teachers must make sure that children are still getting plenty of exercise, even if they are in wheelchairs. Other special education teachers include art and dance therapists, teachers who have extra training in working with emotionally disturbed children. Some special education teachers have auditory training to supplement their work with deaf children.

Jobs in special education teaching can be adapted to special settings, making each job slightly different. Some teachers have their own classrooms and work with small groups of students. Others may go to parents' homes and work with severely mentally or physically challenged children on a one to one basis. The jobs can be so different from one setting to another that it is difficult to list all the different types of special education teaching jobs.

What Are Positive Behavioral Supports, and Can They Help My Child?

Does your child with autism or ADHD have behavioral issues while at school? Does your school district continue to punish your child, rather than find a way to decrease their negative behavior? This article will discuss the use of positive behavioral supports to increase positive behavior thus decreasing negative behavior.

Punishment only works in the short term to decrease negative behavior. Positive behavioral supports are research based and best practice, to change a child's behavior for the long term.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004 (IDEA 2004) requires : The IEP team in a case of a child whose behavior impedes his or her learning, or that of others to consider. . .strategies including positive behavioral intervention and systems to achieve positive change.

So while many special education personnel continue to punish a child with a disability for negative behavior, the use of positive supports are required by IDEA 2004, and they are also effective long term.

A summary of Positive Behavioral Supports:

1. Positive behavioral support is the application of positive behavioral interventions and systems to achieve positive change.

2. Positive behavioral support is an approach to discipline and intervention that is proving both effective and practical in schools.

3. The emphasis is on behavior change that is durable, comprehensive, and linked to academic and social gains.

4. The development of positive behavioral intervention and plans, are guided by functional behavioral assessment and is a foundation on which positive behavioral support is delivered.

5. Functional Behavioral Assessment is a systematic way of identifying problem behaviors and the events that predict occurrence, and maintenance of those behaviors.

6. A proactive perspective is maintained along a continuum, using prevention and interventions.