The Education of Students With Special Needs Provenzo Chapter 12 If we are indeed a democracy in action and not just in name, it is the obligation of the educational system to help—within reason—each and every student to become all he or she is capable of becoming. it is the obligation of the educational system to help—within reason—each and every student to become all he or she is capable of becoming.

Education of Students With Special Needs

Special Education 12 to 15 percent of the population: within a special education category. 12 to 15 percent of the population: within a special education category.

Diverse categories: Blind and limited vision Blind and limited vision Deaf and hard of hearing Deaf and hard of hearing speech disabilities speech disabilities physical disabilities physical disabilities emotional disturbances emotional disturbances learning disabilities learning disabilities developmentally disabilities developmentally disabilities

The numbers: More than 6 million U.S. school-age children (12%) have some type of functional limitation. More than 6 million U.S. school-age children (12%) have some type of functional limitation. 5,237,000 (11%) have a limitation in terms of their ability to learn 5,237,000 (11%) have a limitation in terms of their ability to learn 2,743,000 (6%) have a communication limitation 2,743,000 (6%) have a communication limitation 650,000 children (1%) limited mobility 650,000 children (1%) limited mobility

A right to be educated If we are indeed a democracy in action and not just in name, it is the obligation of the educational system to help—within reason—each and every student to become all he or she is capable of becoming. If we are indeed a democracy in action and not just in name, it is the obligation of the educational system to help—within reason—each and every student to become all he or she is capable of becoming. Historically children with special educational needs have been denied equal educational opportunities. Historically children with special educational needs have been denied equal educational opportunities.

Looking back Middle Ages and the Renaissance: people who were mentally retarded or psychologically disturbed often considered either divinely possessed or controlled by demons. Middle Ages and the Renaissance: people who were mentally retarded or psychologically disturbed often considered either divinely possessed or controlled by demons. Early 1600’s: first programs to teach the deaf to communicate using sign language. Early 1600’s: first programs to teach the deaf to communicate using sign language. 1760: National Institute for Deaf founded in Paris 1760: National Institute for Deaf founded in Paris Recognized as the first publicly sponsored school for the disabled. Recognized as the first publicly sponsored school for the disabled.

Victor Jean-Marc Gaspard Itard worked with a feral child brought to him in Jean-Marc Gaspard Itard worked with a feral child brought to him in Named the young man “Victor”. Named the young man “Victor”. First example of a systematic attempt by an educator to meet the particular needs of a special person and to help him develop as fully and completely as possible. First example of a systematic attempt by an educator to meet the particular needs of a special person and to help him develop as fully and completely as possible.

Pioneers 1800’s: French educator Edouard Sequin developed a system for treating mentally retarded people that emphasized clinical observation and the development of sensory and motor skills. 1800’s: French educator Edouard Sequin developed a system for treating mentally retarded people that emphasized clinical observation and the development of sensory and motor skills. Sequin’s work was influential on such people as Maria Montessori. Sequin’s work was influential on such people as Maria Montessori. Samuel G. Howe ( ) started the first school for the blind in the U.S. Samuel G. Howe ( ) started the first school for the blind in the U.S. Thomas H. Galludet ( ) organized the first school for the deaf in the U.S. Thomas H. Galludet ( ) organized the first school for the deaf in the U.S. Louis Braille ( ) developed the system of writing that enables the blind to see by touch. Louis Braille ( ) developed the system of writing that enables the blind to see by touch.

Changes in attitudes Significant changes in attitudes toward special education began in the early 1960s. Significant changes in attitudes toward special education began in the early 1960s. 1961: President John F. Kennedy appointed a special committee on mental retardation. 1961: President John F. Kennedy appointed a special committee on mental retardation. As a result, laws were passed that allocated funds for training experts in special education. As a result, laws were passed that allocated funds for training experts in special education. 1967: Bureau of the Handicapped was established by the United States Office of Education to administer research, education, and training programs in special education. 1967: Bureau of the Handicapped was established by the United States Office of Education to administer research, education, and training programs in special education.

Legislation The Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 The Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Only half of the children identified as disabled in the early 1970s had access to educational programs appropriate to their needs. Only half of the children identified as disabled in the early 1970s had access to educational programs appropriate to their needs. Congress made major provisions to guarantee and protect the rights of disabled people. Congress made major provisions to guarantee and protect the rights of disabled people. “No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the U.S. shall solely by reason of his handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” “No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the U.S. shall solely by reason of his handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” Public Law Public Law Passed and signed into law by President Gerald Ford in November, Passed and signed into law by President Gerald Ford in November, Key point: requirement that every child be provided with a “free appropriate public education.” Key point: requirement that every child be provided with a “free appropriate public education.” Among the most controversial conditions of PL is the provision that children with disabilities be educated with nondisabled children whenever possible—a process that came to be known as mainstreaming or currently inclusion. Among the most controversial conditions of PL is the provision that children with disabilities be educated with nondisabled children whenever possible—a process that came to be known as mainstreaming or currently inclusion. Reauthorized in 1990 as the Individual with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 (IDEA). Reauthorized in 1990 as the Individual with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 (IDEA). Key to interpreting Public Law and IDEA has been the policy of placing students with special needs into “the least restrictive environment” possible. Key to interpreting Public Law and IDEA has been the policy of placing students with special needs into “the least restrictive environment” possible.

Equal Access and the Student with Special Needs The passage of PL has forced local school systems to reevaluate their physical plans in light of the needs of special students. The passage of PL has forced local school systems to reevaluate their physical plans in light of the needs of special students. Until the passage of the law in 1975 most facilities were designed exclusively for the nondisabled. Until the passage of the law in 1975 most facilities were designed exclusively for the nondisabled.

Identifying Individuals with Special Needs At the beginning of the 20th century, it was widely assumed that measuring an individual’s intelligence was possible. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was widely assumed that measuring an individual’s intelligence was possible. Alfred Binet thought that human intelligence could be precisely measured. Alfred Binet thought that human intelligence could be precisely measured. In 1904 Binet was asked by the French government to produce a measurement system that would identify children who could not work in classrooms at the same level as “normal” children. In 1904 Binet was asked by the French government to produce a measurement system that would identify children who could not work in classrooms at the same level as “normal” children. Binet produced a version of his test in 1908 that measured the mental age of the child, later called intelligence quota (IQ) Binet produced a version of his test in 1908 that measured the mental age of the child, later called intelligence quota (IQ) Binet felt that his test should provide a general guide to identifying the special needs of students. Binet felt that his test should provide a general guide to identifying the special needs of students. He did not feel that intelligence could be captured with a single number or measurement. He did not feel that intelligence could be captured with a single number or measurement. In many instances mental testing has proved highly discriminatory and has been used for purposes that were not always in the best interest of the individual. In many instances mental testing has proved highly discriminatory and has been used for purposes that were not always in the best interest of the individual.

Discussion Questions What is an appropriate education for a student with special needs? What is an appropriate education for a student with special needs? What are the arguments for and against inclusion of students with special needs into regular classrooms? What are the arguments for and against inclusion of students with special needs into regular classrooms? Why has interest in the needs of special students in the United States increased since the 1960’s? Why has interest in the needs of special students in the United States increased since the 1960’s?