Special education process
Educate, communicate and train the parents about special education
Communicate to my Chinese parents that a learning disability does NOT mean the child has no school abilities or cannot participate in school events. Instead, identifying learning challenges is a positive because once we know what specific barriers are causing problems, we can provide additional support to make sure the student doesn’t fall farther behind his/her peers.
Parental consent before the child may be evaluated
Parents can also call the school and ask that their child be evaluated
Identify all children with disabilities who need special education and related services.
Evaluate the child with disabilities who needs special education and related services
Child is found eligible for services
Make the individualised Education Program (IEP)
AccommodationsAccommodations do not alter what the student is expected to learn but rather make learning accessible to the student
Modifications are generally changes made in what is being taught or expected from the student. They alter the content knowledge expectations as well as assessment administration practices. A modification is a change in the course of study, the standards, test preparation, location, timing, scheduling, expectations, student response and/or other attribute which provides access to the general curriculum.
Have a set routine
The IEP includes current performance (how the student is doing at the moment)
When is the program beginning, where will it be and for how long
Training or professional development provided to help assist the child
How will progress be measured
Child reevaluated at the end of the year (we only have students for a maximum of four years as we get them at the end of the nine-year compulsory education, to prepare them for university overseas)
Set up term goals: Our school releases report four times a year. This will be a good time to monitor progress or lack thereof
Review and make the necessary changes to the IEP
If the child reaches the benchmarks to promote to the next level, let him/her move. Otherwise, repeat the year and the process
Related services
Occupational therapy
Counselling and psychological services
Physical therapy
Parent counselling and training
Recreation
Extended time to complete the assignment or test.
Physical arrangement of the classroom and preferential seating.
Varying of activities.
Allowing for different ways of responding.
Format of materials is changed to meet the students’ needs.
Reinforcement provided.
Varying forms of instruction delivery.
Participation with non-disabled children clarified
Materials are adapted. Vocabulary, concepts and principles are simplified
Assignments are changed.
Testing adaptations are used
Reduction of classwork or homework.
Using specialized/alternative curricula written at a lower level.
Grading is subject to different standards.
Reference
- Jacobs S. (2017, December 6). What Are School Accommodations and Modifications for Students with Asperger’s?Aspergers 101: Your resource for high - functioning Autism and Aspergers Syndrome. Retrieved December 11,2017 from https://aspergers101.com/4072-2/
- U.S Department of Education (2000, July). A Guide to the Individualized Education Program. U.S Department of Education. Retrieved December 11, 2017 from https://www2.ed.gov/parents/needs/speced/iepguide/index.html
Module 2: The culture of schooling
unit 3: Students with special needs
activity 2: students with Learning Difficulties
Teach - Now November 2017 Cohort 4,
Eric Semasaka