Do you know what the word ‘mainstreaming’ refers to when used within an educational environment? Do you know what the letters IDEA, LRE or IEP stand for? Can you fully define Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? If you do not have a career in special education, you may not know the answers to these questions. […]
When determining how best to instruct a child with a learning disability, there is no formulaic method for success. This is largely due to the varying degrees at which children are affected by their disabilities. For example, a child who is simply dyslexic requires distinct assistance from a child with severe mental impairment. As a […]
In general education, both teachers and students face certain obstacles along the path to learning. If a student is learning English as a second language (ESL) then there can be greater difficulties, as communication and comprehension break down at a basic level. In bilingual special education, all of these traditional problems exist and are compounded […]
These days–at first glance–it seems like our society has finally come around in regard to awareness towards children with special needs. Public awareness of various disabilities—autism and Asperger syndrome are two salient success cases—has risen sharply in the last few years, as conditions formerly cocooned in shame and misunderstanding are now being fought head-on, through […]
Being a teacher of any stripe is no job for the thin-skinned, but those who chose to charge into the field of special education, working with special needs children deserve to come back with medals on their chests. On top of the standard issue stresses of education, special ed teachers face increased emotional demands, potential […]
For reasons that are still unclear, more and more children are being diagnosed with disabilities, from Down syndrome to speech impediments. According to the Center for Disease Control, an astonishing one in 50 American children is diagnosed with some form of autism, a ratio that has demonstrably gone up over the past decade. Accordingly, we’re […]
Steps to Consider Before Contacting a Special Education Attorney Having a child with special needs can be trying, but as a parent, you likely believe that your child’s school is doing what they can to help. Unfortunately, there are times when a school just doesn’t pull its weight when it comes toeducating special needs children. […]
Most children spend the majority of their day in a public school setting, so there is an important responsibility placed on schools for their role in the children’s lives. With a responsibility that nature, there is also a large possibility of disputes arising over a variety of situations, school actions which if handled poorly can […]
Your child’s education is rightly very important to you, so if ever any issues arise between you and the school, it’s important you know that there are special procedures in place for resolving disputes: mediation and due process hearings. An initial response to a dispute is often mediation, where you and a school representative […]
LRE, mainstreaming and inclusion are essential terms to know when working with a student in special education programs. These elements of students’ IEPs will determine how they spend their time at school, how they receive services and how they function within the school’s community, among many other things. What is LRE? LRE stands for […]