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Special education teachers design and teach appropriate curricula, assign work geared toward each student's needs and abilities, and grade papers and homework assignments.
They are involved in the students behavioral, social, and academic development, helping them develop emotionally and interact effectively in social situations.
Preparing special education students for daily life after graduation also is an important aspect of the job. Teachers provide students with career counseling or help them learn life skills, such as balancing a checkbook.
Working with students with special needs may require more paperwork from you but if every child deserves a equal opportunity education.
Inclusion-Inclusion is an educational approach and philosophy that provides all students with community membership and greater opportunities for academic and social achievement. Inclusion is about making sure that each and every student feels welcome and that their unique needs and learning styles are attended to and valued. Least restrictive environment-To the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities, including children in public or private institutions or other care facilities, are educated with children who are not disabled, and special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment occurs only when the nature or severity of the disability of a child is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily. Individualized Educational Plan (IEP)an individualized plan for a student with disabilities that describes the measures teachers must take to accommodate the learning needs of the student. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law enacted in 1990 and reauthorized in 1997 and 2004. 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. Mainstream- in the context of education is a term that refers to the practice of educating students with special needs in regular classes during specific time periods based on their skills.
Key Phrases
Assistive Technology
Assistive technology or adaptive technology (AT) is an umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and also includes the process used in selecting, locating, and using them. AT promotes greater independence by enabling people to perform tasks that they were formerly unable to accomplish, or had great difficulty accomplishing, by providing enhancements to, or changing methods of interacting with, the technology needed to accomplish such tasks. Assistive technology tools can be classified along a continuum that moves from devices that are considered low tech, to tools and devices that are more complex or high tech.
Mobility, seating, and positioning Products whose main focus is on augmenting or replacing the functional limitations of an individuals mobility.
Computers and related - Hardware and software products that enable people with disabilities to access, interact with, and use computers at home, work, or school. Includes modified or alternate keyboards, switches activated by pressure, touch screens, special software, voice to text software.
TouchWindow is ideal for students who have trouble manipulating the mouse
Assistive technology resources http://sped.peabody.k12.ma.us /assistive_technology_resourc es.htm The previous link is a great resource to help teachers find various tools that will help in the classroom. It contains information detailing equipment, assistive devices, and software for reading, writing and communication to be effective with students in your classroom.
References
http://kresa.org/domain/50 http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/,root,s tatute,I,B,612,a,5, http://www.readingrockets.org/article/2 63/ http://www.ldonline.org/article/8088 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainstreami ng_(education) http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/ methods/technlgy/te7assist.htm http://www.microsoft.com/enable/at/typ es.aspx http://www.help4adhd.org/education/rig hts/idea
http://www.blind.state.ia.us/educators
http://technewsforteachers.pbworks.co m/w/page/20252690/FrontPage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistive_te chnology http://www.tobiisonoflex.com/ http://www.ncatp.org/Overview.html http://www.synapseadaptive.com/edma rk/prod/tw/default.htm http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos070.htm