Into to Special Ed Fall 2021

Autism Spectrum and Low-Incidence Disorders  Autism spectrum disorders is a broad term that includes three conditions characterized by limitation and three areas of development: communication, social interaction, and repetitive behaviors or interests. Autism is one of the specific diagnoses included within ASD. In addition to autism, Asperger syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder are included in the group of disabilities called ASD Explicitly teach preschoolers with autism these skills Attention: by focusing on the discrete elements of the task being taught Imitation: by guiding practice and reinforcing each step of a skill copied Making requests: by insisting that the desire be expressed orally before it is fulfilled Compliance: by insisting that an adult’s request is followed Play with objects: by providing opportunities to interact with interesting toys and rewarding preschoolers when they play with the toys Play with others: by arranging opportunities and toys ...

Deaf:  those with profound hearing loss who cannot understand sounds with or without hearing aids Hard of hearing:  those with hearing losses that impair their understanding of sounds, including communication Listening devices and other hearing technologies enable them to comprehend oral speech and communications Tips for Classroom Management Making adjustments for ease of hearing and seeing speakers Place the student as close to the speaker as possible Instead of a blackboard, use an overhead projector or a computer with a projection system so the speaker can face the class when talking Reduce background noise as much as possible Do not stand with direct light behind you For class discussions, make certain the student knows who is about to speak, and ensure that he or she is able to see each individual who is talking For class discussions, arrange students’ chairs in a circle so the student can see everyone’s face Accommodating for Inclusive Environments Adjusting classroom r...

  Intellectual and physical/health disabilities Intellectual disabilities, mental retardation, or cognitive disabilities: impaired intellectual functioning, limited adapted behavior, need for supports, an initial occurrence before age 18 Challenges Bias and prejudice, labels and name-calling,  stigma, learning is more difficult than it is for a typical learner, tasks that seem easy and natural to most people of the same age can be almost overwhelming Mild intellectual disability IQ range of 50 to 69 Moderate intellectual disability IQ range of 35 to 49 Severe intellectual disability IQ range of 20 to 34 Profound intellectual disability IQ under 20 Tips for Effective Instruction Across Skills Select learning objectives that are specific to the skill being taught Gain students’ attention before beginning instruction Actively involve the students in the lesson Teach with real materials or provide concrete examples Ensure that the first skill taught is mastered Point out simil...

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) : a condition of hyperactivity, impulsivity, inattention; included in other health impairments Challenges : inattentiveness hyperactivity or impulsivity at risk for failing school, being suspended, abusing substances, dropping out of school, and having a very high rate of conflicts with their families over doing chores and their homework assignments parents often frustrated and stressed can negatively influence relationships with others can be rejected by peers and disliked by their teachers can feel friendless and lonely Tips for Effective Instruction Promote Effective Completion of Assignments  define goals clearly, and provide concrete examples  offer a rationale for completing the assignment  provide clear, concise, and step-by-step directions for all assignments both orally and in print  have students first review the assignment  list all materials needed  state specifically how much time is allowed ...

  Speech Impairments and Learning Disabilities These problems are common for many students with disabilities. In fact the majority of students with learning disabilities and those with emotional or behavioral disorders also have co-occurring language impairment. Many of these students show similar developmental traits: as preschoolers their language development is delayed, by third grade their difficulties learning to read have signaled learning disabilities to their teachers, and throughout their schooling they struggle with most academic subjects that require mastery of skills related to the applications of language – reading, writing and oral communication. Challenges: can affect how a person interacts with others in all kinds of settings and an influence an individual’s success in school, social situations, and employment Speech: the vocal production of language ·          Speech Impairments; articulation disorders, fluency proble...

  Culturally diverse – being from a cultural group what is not Eurocentric or of mainstream America, may or may not be immigrant status Linguistically diverse – having a home or native language other than English, considered LEP or ELL, require language supports in classroom settings Being CLD puts people at risk for discrimination, bias, reduced opportunities, and challenging life situations. CLD students are disproportionately poor and often have limited access to healthcare, being homeless, and attending low quality schools which all creates further inequity. CLD students are distinctive in many ways and their differences can be inaccurately determined to be disabilities. Teachers should recognize that these variations can be due to a culture that is different than the American mainstream. A mismatch of home and school cultures, often referred to as cross-cultural dissonance, may explain why many diverse students seems to constantly be in trouble and why traditional clas...