Understanding Children with Special Needs

Special Needs Definition: Circumstances that cause development to vary significantly from what is considered average. Example: giftedness (learn and develop more quickly) or other types of special needs due to disabilities (vision problems, limited mobility, and difficulty learning) Children can experience disabilities in many areas of development: physical, emotional (or behavioral), and intellectual.

Inclusion The education of children with special needs has changed greatly over the past few decades. The most popular form of education used currently is inclusion: combining children with average abilities and children with special needs in the same classroom.

I.D.E.A I.D.E.A = Individuals with Disabilities Education Act The law requires that children with disabilities be educated in the "least restrictive environment appropriate” to meet their “unique needs.” This “least restrictive environment” is often a regular classroom ….which would be INCLUSION

What Special Needs Children Need: IEP =Individualized Education Plan – A written plan that outlines how to encourage development in a child who has special needs The right staff – Assistants, case managers, trained staff, etc. Adapting the environment – Making sure the physical environment is accessible Adapting the curriculum – Modifying the curriculum so that it is appropriate for the child

With a partner Pick an Early Childhood Disorder Create a power point on the disorder to share with the class. At least 3 slides. Include: – What the disorder is including signs/symptoms Make sure you include at what ages you start to see this disorder appear! – What accommodations would children with that disorder need in school – The prognosis (outcome of this disorder) Will the child grow out of it? Medication? Any chance of progress? Remember a disorder is not a disease—use the right terminology

Options Autism ADD/ADHD Cerebral Palsy Deafness Down Syndrome Emotional Disturbance Epilepsy Learning Disabled Mental Retardation Sensory Integration Speech Delay Visual Impairments Selected Mutism Spina Bifida Tourette’s Syndrome Bipolar disorder Conduct disorder Fetal alcohol syndrome Muscular Dystrophy Ask your teacher if you have something else in mind!