Week 2: Jan 18-22

On Wednesday, we learned all about the history and case studies which formed the background of Special Education rights with federal and state laws. It was saddening to know that people with special needs; both mental and physical were kept in institutions until people knew more about how to best help them. Through case laws and vital court cases, people with special needs earned rights-especially in the public educational settings. Through Section 504 and the Rehabilitation Act, students with mental and physical disabilities were identified as students that needed accommodations made in order to help them learn and understand the curriculum. In addition, 504 gave people the right to sue for punitive damages if teachers or schools were neglectful. The government realized that the more they helped students with special needs earlier in their lives, the more money they would save in the long run from not ending up in juvenile detention centers or prison. Prevention and remediation are key with helping people with special needs, both cognitive and physical delays. Response to Intervention is a strategy that we talked about with providing extra services to those that need it on the first tier. On the second tier, providing after-school help and tutors can help students who need more assistance. Intense interventions; such as an aid, special aid teacher, behavioral contract, parent involvement, written plan, and an informed parent consent are the actions for students on the third tier.

On Friday, we learned all the details of students with Autism from the small group presentation. We were broken up into 3 groups: characteristics, teaching these students, and management strategies.

Characteristics:

• repetitive behaviors 
• social interacitons
• communication
•  no known cause nor cure
• varying degrees and effects
• sometimes tantrums and behavioral seizures
• best to catch early b/c early help with treatments. could be less-severe.

Teaching these students:

• incorporate repetition
• get to know them personally, their "likes" and talents
• patience, ask for assistance
• small solutions, helping them to learn
• parent communication, do what they do, they are a great resource!
• Heavenly Father knows best how to help his children, follow the Holy Ghost

Management Strategies:

• focus more on the HOW, more than the WHAT
• establish academic goals, more social, go from where they are
• motivate! keep on-task, show care, love, and respect
• distractions and changes with daily routine can stress them out, so be careful and SLOWLY transition from one thing to another