Special education

Special education consists of educational programs designed to support students whose singular needs or disabilities require special teaching approaches, equipment, or care within a regular classroom or in a specialized school setting.

This article will focus mainly on the teaching of students with singular disabilities.

History

Children with singular disabilities have always been part of our communities. In the past, some “special” education was provided to individual children on a one to one basis, such as Jean Marc Gaspard Itard’s work with Victor, the “wild child of Averyon”. As formal education became established, welfare or religious groups for the care of children with singular disabilities often became involved in their education. Government provision of special education services generally followed after voluntary groups had shown what could be done.

Progress in Special Education saw a major reversal as the eugenics movement took hold. Under this theory, it was irresponsible to care for and educate people with singular disabilities as it would “weaken society.” The more scientific approaches, such as behaviourism, to studying disability, led to a new understanding of special education and the vision that all children could learn,^{[citation needed]} no matter what diagnosis they were given.

Initially education was provided to children of school age – about six or seven. In the 1970s research into Early Childhood Intervention, the provision of special education from birth or first diagnosis, showed that the earlier special education was provided, the better the outcome for the child and the entire family.^{[citation needed]}

Special Education changed with Wolfensberger's theory of Normalisation - that all people with singular disabilities have the right to lead "normal" lives, including being part of a family, attending a local school, and holding a job in the community. This theory led to the concept of Inclusive Education, where schools no longer provide "regular education" and "special education" but provide a service which includes every child, no matter what he or she needs at the time.

Special Education services now extend past school-age into adulthood, as a better understanding of life-long learning has been gained. It includes school-based activities as well as family and community activities, and has become a major testing ground for better teaching for all children,^{[citation needed]} not simply children with singular disabilities.

Special Education has a different quality in different countries. The political, economic and social pressures in each country has led to a different form of Special Education, with different sets of policies and practices.

Abbreviations

In North America special education is commonly abbreviated as Special Ed, SpecEd, SPED, and SpEd in a professional context.[1][2] It should be noted that the term sped is often interpreted as an insult.^{[citation needed]}

In the United Kingdom the initialism SEN is most commonly used when discussing special education needs. The term is used to denote the condition of having special educational needs, the services which provide the support and the programs and staff which implement the education. [3] In Scotland the term Special Educational Needs (SEN), and its variants are not officially used. Additional Support Needs (ASN) is used when discussing such situations.[4]

See also

• Adapted Physical Education
• Exceptional education
• Least restrictive environment
• Mainstreaming in education
• Post Secondary Transition For High School Students with Disabilities
• Special Education in the United States

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Wilmshurst, L. and A.W. Brue, A. W. 2005.

External links

• Council for Exceptional Children
• Education and Advocacy for Children
• Inclusive Education in Scotland
• LD Online
• National Association of School Psychologists
• SchwabLearning.org A parent and educator's guide to helping kids with learning difficulties through free information, resources, and support.
• Special Education and Medicaid KnowledgeBase
• Special Education Questions Answered
• Special Educational Needs (SEN) Teaching Tools and Support Websites
• U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
• When It's Your Own Child: A Report on Special Education from the Families Who Use It Public Agenda, 2002

Credits

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• History of "Special education"

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