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Do you want to learn what special education is? How about learning disabilities? Please read more.
Disclaimer: The author and GAM Productions are presenting the information herein solely for informational purposes. This blog post does not serve as a substitute for consultation, advice, or treatment that involve a healthcare professional. The parties mentioned above shall not be held responsible for any injury or injuries that may affect the reader of this post. Neither GAM Productions or the owner thereof is considered a healthcare professional or provider.
Furthermore, GAM Productions is not an educational institution or law firm. The organization's owner does not work in the legal profession. This blog post is not legal advice, so you need a licensed practitioner of law for this purpose.
GAM Productions is a fictional organization.
Prologue
Many of you have probably heard of special education, but have no idea of what it is. I can easily explain this, since I received special education services during my public school career. In this blog post, the reader will find out what special education and learning disabilities are. The post will also go over what an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is, and pertinent legal information. You will also learn about the role of a special education teacher. Moreover, this post will explain how special education services are different at a private school from its public counterpart. The main takeaway: special education is highly individualized for anyone who gets the services.
Note: The information included herein applies exclusively to the United States of America.
Special Education 101
In case you're not aware, here's what special education is. Amanda Morin tells Understood that "[s]pecial education refers to a range of services that help kids with disabilities learn." The Mayo Clinic states that youth who have learning disabilities generally have problems with academics prior to receiving "diagnos[is]" at a clinic. Understood also mentions that "special education" is fully customized for each student. Morin adds that although the scope of special education is to provide assistance with "learning" for children with disabilities, they are not assigned to spend the entire school day "in a special classroom." That is because "[U.S.] federal law" requires that students with special education status "learn" alongside their regular counterparts, according to Morin. There is a term for that: "Least restrictive environment [LRE]." The "Classroom Setting" section (see below) covers the concept of LRE. In the section entitled "Working as a Special Education Teacher" (see below), the reader will find out what a special education teaching job involves.
Working as a Special Education Teacher
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), a special education teacher "work[s] with students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities." The OOH also enumerates a series of tasks that special education teachers are required to do. For example, they are responsible for modifying the regular classroom material for students with disabilities. A special education teacher might also work in what the OOH calls an "inclusive classroom," where he or she functions as an instructor for the pupils with disabilities. Furthermore, Alison Doyle writes that a special education teacher must communicate with a variety of school employees and the parents of all students assigned to him or her. The job even involves writing and monitoring an Individualized Education Program (IEP), a subject that is outlined later in this post. Now that you are familiar with what a special education teacher does, the next subsection outlines what type of education is required.
Education
In this paragraph, the reader will find out what type of college degree is essential for a career in teaching special education. The OOH reports that special education teachers must possess "a bachelor's degree" as well as "certification" or "license" from their jurisdiction's Department of Education. This is applicable to teachers who work at a public school. A special education teacher also needs "to be licensed in the specific grade level that [he or she] teach[es]," according to the OOH. Again, that only applies to special education professionals whose employer is a public school district. However, the OOH adds that some jurisdictions have an additional requirement: "a master's degree in special education" to receive outright accreditation. The next paragraph outlines what could be included in a college or university degree program for special education.
The OOH also explains what a special education teacher-in-training should generally experience during collegiate study. According to the OOH, he or she will be taught the myriad of "disabilities" as well as "how to present information so that students will understand." As the OOH writes, a trainee is often expected to participate in "a student-teaching program," which involves "work[ing] with a mentor" and gain practical knowledge about lecturing students.
The section entitled "Classroom Setting" (see below) explains what LRE is.
Classroom Setting
As stated previously, the concept of LRE is the subject of this paragraph. According to the Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR), LRE is simply "the setting where a child with a disability can receive an appropriate education designed to meet his or her educational needs, alongside peers without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate." Amanda Morin writes for Understood that this applies to "public schools." The CPIR also says that LRE is an essential fixture to a student's IEP. (The subject of the IEP is covered in the next subsection, which is located below.) Morin also states that children with disabilities belong in "general education classrooms" if they have no "strong reason" to be classified differently. Morin even reports that LRE is a key component of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which is America's federal "special education law."
The concept of "inclusive classroom" was mentioned in the "Working as a Special Education Teacher" section (see above). The Understood Team reports that the use of "inclusive classrooms" at schools is in accordance with IDEA. According to Understood, studies have found that students who receive special education services actually benefit from being placed in normal classrooms. For instance, Understood writes that such students have fewer "absen[ces]" and perform better in reading and mathematics. Similarly, research also finds that "inclusive education" is equally beneficial for students without special education status as well. As Understood writes, the special education pupil's contemporaries understand "differences" and establish "diverse, more caring friendships" more easily. The Understood article mentioned above also provides four major advantages of placing special education students in the same classroom as other pupils. Overall, inclusive education is crucial for both students with disabilities and those without.
Now that you're familiar with classrooms for students who have special education services, the next section outlines what an IEP is.
Individual Education Program (IEP)
According to Nemours KidsHealth, an IEP is furnished to any student who require additional "help and support in school." (Remember, special education services are not applied uniformly to each student.) KidsHealth also writes that an IEP is compulsory for any pupil who qualifies "for special education services." Gail Belsky tells Understood that an IEP has several purposes in addition to being "a written legal document." Belsky also reports that the IDEA "cover[s]" the IEP. The subsection "Special Education at Private School" (see below) explains how special education services differ at private schools. The next paragraph talks about the components of an IEP.
In this paragraph, you will find out that a lot of important information should be in an IEP. An article from the CPIR mentions that an IEP team will consist of two types of adults: school staff and "parents" of the student concerned. The CPIR adds that the team shall come together whenever necessary. At minimum, it should take place on an annual basis. As Belsky writes, an IEP also spells out "the program of special education instruction, supports, and services kids need to make progress and thrive in school." According to Nemours KidsHealth, the IEP will provide a listing of "support services" and frequency thereof at the beginning of the document. KidsHealth also enumerates what personnel might comprise an "evaluation team" if the relevant student's parents authorize it. The CPIR article linked above outlines what needs to be included in the IEP, thereby adhering to the IDEA standards. In the next paragraph, you will find out that special education services do not go with you beyond high school.
In a post from April 2022, I mention that youth with invisible and/or physical disabilities enroll in post-secondary education. The post mentioned above enumerates what concepts are usually needed for such individuals. But, as I wrote in June 2022, they will not be taking some of those elements with them to the collegiate level. The June 2022 post also includes relevant legal information, and how to receive the accommodations he/she had in K-12 school for collegiate study.
Special Education at Private School
Believe it or not, special education at a private school does NOT work the same way as it would at a public one. Nemours KidsHealth adds that parents of children with disabilities should be aware of the vast dissimilarities regarding special education services at private and public schools. The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) mentions that while public schools must "serve the educational needs of students with disabilities," that might not be the case at private schools. In an article for Understood, Geri Coleman Tucker provides important information regarding special education at non-public schools. For example, a private school student with a disability might have "a service plan" established for him or her. The child concerned might not receive as many "free services" as he or she would at a public school. The next paragraph covers the subject of the service plan.
A service plan, as Coleman Tucker writes, is akin to an IEP but with differences. For example, a service plan is not as all-inclusive as the IEP (Coleman Tucker). Amanda Morin writes that private school students do not have IEPs. (Please refer to the section entitled "Individual Education Program [IEP]" to refresh your memory on what an IEP is.) She also tells Understood that, unlike at a public school district, special education services are not compulsory at a private school.
The section entitled "Learning Disabilities & Disorders" (see below) will provide an overview of the subject.
Learning Disabilities & Disorders
Although the terms "learning disability" and "learning disorder" are generally considered synonyms, attorney Andrew M.I. Lee tells Understood that they are actually different concepts. He also explains that whereas "learning disability" is used as "a legal term," "learning disorder is ... diagnostic." However, teachers utilize both of the terms enumerated above. However, "learning disability" is now the most widely used in the scholastic environment.
In the next two subsections (see below), further information on the aforementioned subjects will be provided.
Learning Disability
In an article Gina Kemp co-authored for HelpGuide, "[l]earning disabilities or learning disorders are" considered "umbrella terms for a wide variety of learning problems." An article from the Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) provides the meaning of "learning disabilit[y]" in three different contexts. Dr. Andrea R. Huebner, a children's neuropsychologist at the Mayo Clinic, reports that the signs of learning problems can be observed before they get worse. You can refer to the "Learning Disorder" subsection below for the definition of this concept. Dr. Huebner even mentions how parents might react to their child's learning issues, as well as why. The next paragraph will go over the most common types of learning disability.
Dr. Andrea R. Huebner talks about the "three [common] and officially recognized learning disabilities in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM]" in a YouTube video. She also mentions that the DSM is the reference book that clinicians "use to classify learning disabilities" as well as miscellaneous issues. Moreover, Dr. Huebner explains how they might affect an individual's ability to read, do mathematics, and write. Of course, these are essential abilities in both the academic environment and everyday life.
Speaking of learning disorders, that subject will be covered in the next subsection (see below).
Learning Disorder
Next, the reader will get a more in-depth analysis of learning disorders in this paragraph. The Kemp article mentioned above includes a myriad of age-based "[s]igns and symptoms of learning disabilities" for preschoolers, school-agers, and tweens/teens. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "symptoms of learning disorders" might occur if a student "tr[ies] hard and still struggle[s] with a specific set of skills over time." The CDC also reports that a child with a "learning disorder" has issues with at least one "[area] of learning," regardless of whether "overall intelligence or motivation" is influenced. Furthermore, the CDC enumerates three "[e]xamples of learning disorders," all of which are outlined in the second paragraph "Learning Disability" subsection (see above).
Epilogue
Disclaimer
The author and GAM Productions are presenting the information herein solely for informational purposes. This blog post does not serve as a substitute for consultation, advice, or treatment that involve a healthcare professional. The parties mentioned above shall not be held responsible for any injury or injuries that may affect the reader of this post. Neither GAM Productions or the owner thereof is considered a healthcare professional or provider.
Furthermore, GAM Productions is not an educational institution or law firm. The organization's owner does not work in the legal or educational professions. This blog post is not legal advice, so you need a licensed practitioner of law for this purpose.
GAM Productions is a fictional organization.
See Also
- Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR)
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
- Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA)
- National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET)
- National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD)
- National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD)
- Partners for Youth with Disabilities (PYD)
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