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Louis Justman

An Overview of the Foundations of Special Education

– Part one covers definitions and terminology, categories and labels, the prevalence of children and young adults with exceptionalities, a brief history of the development of special education, universal design for learning, and exceptionality across the lifespan. It emphasizes the importance of understanding individual students’ needs and strengths, as well as providing flexible and inclusive instructional strategies.
– Part 2 discusses the history, legislation, policies, and practices that have shaped special education in the United States. It covers landmark court cases such as Brown v. Board of Education and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) which guarantee a free and appropriate education, a least restrictive environment, and an individualized education plan for students with disabilities. Additionally, the text discusses standards-based education, civil rights legislation, and the referral and assessment process for special education.
– Part 3 addresses cultural and linguistic diversity in American schools, with a focus on the disproportionate representation of minority students in special education programs. I highlight the need for educators to appreciate and respect cultural differences and guard against stereotyping, while also acknowledging the impact of poverty and inadequate identification procedures in special education.
– Part 4 covers the importance of involving parents as decision-makers in their child’s special education, as well as the different stages of the grief cycle that families may go through when dealing with a child’s disability.
– Part 5 is an overview of assistive technology in special education, including its history, legislation, decision-making frameworks, categorization, and future trends. It also highlights issues such as the need for adequate training, cost, and stigmatization, and emphasizes the role of assistive technology in supporting Universal Design for Learning.

Description

This presentation introduces the topic of special education to teacher education candidates.

This was completed for the course ED 562 Introduction to Learning Disabilities.