1. Module 5, Transparency #1 Assisting Students with Disabilities: A Training Program for Paraeducators Module 5: Learning About Disabilities

2. Module 5, Transparency #2 Instructional Objectives: To describe a variety of positive and negative ways of viewing people with disabilities To describe key principles and practices of Special Education To describe several ways paraeducators can assist students with disabilities To be familiar with Kentucky’s 13 disability categories and ways for assisting students with these specific disabilities Module 5: Learning About Disabilities

3. Module 5, Transparency #3 Module Overview General Disability Issues Special Education Supporting Students with Disabilities Kentucky Disability Categories

4. Module 5, Transparency #4 General Disability Issues Stereotypes & prejudice Commonly-held beliefs Beliefs about a group of people Usually negative Assumptions about an individual person, without even knowing the person Lead to unfair practices (discrimination) Lead to mistaken judgments

5. Module 5, Transparency #5 General Disability Issues Valuing people with disabilities: Positive contributions Strengths & abilities Self-determination Relationships Full citizenship What can you do to demonstrate these values?

6. Module 5, Transparency #6 General Disability Issues Use considerate language “Person first” Introduce by name and interests, not by disability Use real names of disabilities, not slang or derogatory terms “Uses a wheelchair” (not “wheelchair-bound”)

7. Module 5, Transparency #7 Special Education The recent past: school exclusion for youth with disabilities The present: Acknowledgement that students with disabilities CAN benefit from education Laws to protect the rights of people with disabilities, including the rights of children and youth to education

8. Module 5, Transparency #8 Special Education IDEA 1997 Educational rights for children and youth ages 0-21 Children are eligible for certain services if they have a disability and need specially- designed instruction in order to benefit from school 6 key principles

9. Module 5, Transparency #9 Special Education Other laws that may affect children and youth with disabilities: The Rehabilitation Act - employment-related services Section 504 (of the Rehab Act) - requires schools to provide accommodations) ADA – prohibits discrimination in all activities & programs Tech Act – helps states provide assistive technology

10. Module 5, Transparency #10 Special Education Inclusion Teaching students with disabilities alongside typical peers as much as possible (“least restrictive environment”) More difficult than teaching students in segregated settings More humane and beneficial

11. Module 5, Transparency #11 Special Education Inclusion – how can it be done well? Daily collaboration between special education teacher, general education teacher, para, and any other service providers Prepare for multiple levels of instruction within the same activity/lesson Recognize that fairness means equal opportunity to learn

12. Module 5, Transparency #12 Supporting Students with Disabilities Get information about the student Collaborate with the instructional team Look for opportunities to help the student with social skills and relationships Help with coping, problem- solving, self-determination…

13. Module 5, Transparency #13 Supporting Students with Disabilities Work cooperatively with the student’s parents Encourage their participation in their son/daughter’s education Appreciate their expertise Provide referral information Be forgiving & understanding Maintain a professional relationship (not a close friendship)

14. Module 5, Transparency #14 Kentucky Disability Categories To be eligible for Special Education in Kentucky, a student must meet criteria for at least 1 of the following 13 disability categories: 1) Developmental Delay 2) Orthopedic Impairment 3) Speech or Language Impairment 4) Visual Impairment

15. Module 5, Transparency #15 Kentucky Disability Categories 5) Hearing Impairment 6) Deaf-Blindness 7) Autism 8) Emotional-Behavioral Disability 9) Specific Learning Disability 10) Mental Disability 11) Traumatic Brain Injury 12) Other Health Impairment 13) Multiple Disabilities