Reflection on My Ability as a Teacher of Special Needs Children

While all children can be referred for evaluation for special education, not all are found to be eligible. The student will be tested in all areas related to the child’s assumed disability by the multidisciplinary educational team. In order to be eligible for special education services, the child’s assume disability has to impact the child’s ability to learn. Parents represent the child’s interests. They need to stay informed and involved in their child’s education. IDEA of 2004 strengthened the role, as well as the responsibility, of parents and ensures that they and their families have opportunities to participate in their child’s education. IDEA also protects the rights of parents by ensuring that they can be members of the IEP teams. Parents can be involved in the evaluations and placements of their children and have a say in what happens.

I have distinctly applied for Special Needs Education because special education has always been what’s near and dear to me in the field of education. Being a special education teacher would be an inevitably rewarding job, in which I get to watch my students grow, as I celebrate their small breakthroughs and victories with them. These small breakthroughs and victories will improve over time and turn into giant leaps, which will leave a lasting impact and ultimately change the child’s life. Beyond just educating children with special needs, I aspire to educate the public about children with special needs and special education. By doing so, I hope to remove any uncertainty and fear the public has on this group of children. Not only do I want to impart knowledge on these special children, I also want to advocate for them, which is something that goes

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that guarantees educational services to eligible students with disabilities. It establishes “people first” language for referring to people with disabilities. IDEA requires states to educate students with disabilities for transition to employment, and to provide transition services. IDEA also provides the students with a free and appropriate education If a student with a disability is expelled from school, IDEA says that he or she must still receive educational services. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act mandates that all students with disabilities take state and district testing. This law also requires a general education teacher to be a member of the Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) team.

There have also been landmark court cases like Brown v Board of Education and Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children v. Pennsylvania (PARC) which as a result set the wheels in motion for special education reform. The Education for Handicapped Children Act of 1975 was amended and renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Education ACT (IDEA) in 1990, has had the greatest impact on special education in public schools. When the law was originally passed in 1975 it required all school districts that accepted federal funds to provide disabled students, ages 5-21, equal access to an education in the least restrictive (LRE) setting possible. Schools were to also disperse funds equally among all students and provide free of charge, the necessary

Special education students are delayed in there learning process. To resolve the gap in learning abilities Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) obliges by law that all public schools to create an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for every child that receives special educational services. IDEA inspires to create an effective relationship amongst the parents and school that boost an educational team with the goals of providing the student with proper services (Mueller, 2009). In Each IEP meeting it involves the IEP team, IEP sections that addresses the student with disabilities educational progress.

For students with documented special needs, the school makes additional accommodation. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is "designed to protect the rights of students with disabilities by ensuring that everyone receives a free appropriate public education (FAPE), regardless of ability" (IDEA, 2012, Kid's Health). IDEA mandates that students are educated in the least restrictive environment possible. It also recognizes that every child is different, and giving each child the same education does not mean that every child will receive the same quality of education.

This case was a very significant ruling for special education evident with numerous studies positing that the ruling of this 1982 case was perhaps the most important special education decision by the Supreme Court and to this day, continues to have a profound effect on the education of students with disabilities. Additionally, this was the first time that the Supreme Court had to interpret portions of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA 1990), which was then the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) as it relates to what constituted a free and appropriate education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE).

This law has some of the definitions revised, changes several key components, and recompiled IDEA into four parts. IDEA's four parts that it is organized into consists of Part A, General provisions; Part B, Assistance for the education of all children with disabilities; Part C, infants and toddlers with disabilities; and Part D, National activities to improve the education of children with disabilities. Students with disabilities may be placed into an alternative educational setting for up to 45 days if they bring a weapon to school, possess or use illegal drugs, or pose a serious threat of injury to other pupils or themselves. Students with disabilities will receive appropriate accommodations when necessary for in state and district wide testing programs. IEPs are now required to include exactly how the student with disabilities will be involved with the general education curriculum. There are also provisions that state that transition planning will begin at the age of 14 instead of 16, annual goals will be emphasized, any assistive technology needs of the learner need to be examined and considered, and regular educators will be a part of the IEP team. The category of developmental delay may now

In 1991 the Public Law 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was replaced by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This law was passed to provide free and appropriate public education to every child with a disability. It requires that each child with a disability “have access to the program best suited to that child’s special needs which is as close as possible to a normal child’s educational program” (Martin, 1978). The Individualized education program (IEP) was developed to help provide a written record of students’ needs and procedures for each child that receives special education services. The IEP will list all the services to be provided, the student's performance level, academic performance, and

Garrett F. (1999), is a case presented to argue that Debbie Young’s decision to refuse Jonathan to attend one of the schools in the district is wrong. In the case of Cedar Rapids Independent School District v. Garrett F. (1999), Garrett is a student who is quadriplegic and is ventilator dependent, therefore, he requires an individual nearby to attend to certain physical needs while he is in school. His parents provided nursing services at school until he entered fifth grade. They then requested that the school district to provide the services. The school district declined. The parents filed a suit against the school district. In the end, the court agreed with the parents. It was granted that nursing services were not related services, instead excluded medical services. Meaning that the student needed these services to attend school. This case would help Jonathan’s parents to prove that Mrs. Youngs refusal of Jonathan was not right. Students with special needs have rights and protections under IDEA which means that there must be some services provided to for them if its needed for them to attend school. In their IEP, that is prepared for each student to receive special education services, a school must provide these services to help the students attend school and receive an appropriate

The special education teacher interviewed, talked about this goal to meet each child’s need is challenging to her especially in eleventh and twelfth grade. The teacher tries to strive towards their educational goals, their need areas, and work on their strengths.

The most important section in the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) is section 1400, which describes the findings and purpose of the law. Even though the purpose of the law is to provide services and protect their rights, this law does not automatically guarantee all children with a disability eligibility for services under the law. There is more than one legal definition and they can still be very vague and confusing. To be eligible a child must have a disability that affects educational performance and needs special education and related services. The child must meet both criteria to be eligible for a free appropriate public education. Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) means special education and related services that are provided at public expense, meet the state standards, are appropriate, and are provided in conformity with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). However, the term “appropriate” education, does not mean the best education, nor an education that maximizes the child’s full potential. It can also differ from one child to the next, because what

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a United States federal law that consents of four categories outlining how public agencies and individual states ensures that students with various disabilities are provided a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) that is conditioned to their specific needs regardless of their ability. This act mandates tailored services, educational modifications, and the main objective for these children throughout the nation is to supply them with the same possibility of getting an education as those who do not have a disability until the age of 21.

Public Law 94-142: The Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, now called Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), requires states to provide free, appropriate public education (FAPE) for every child regardless of disability. This federal law was the first to clearly define the rights of disabled children to receive special education services if their disability affects their educational performance. A parent of a special education student also has basic rights under IDEA including the right to have their child evaluated by the school district and to be included when the school district meets about the child or makes decisions about his or her education. If a child is identified as in need of special education

Special education has faced many changes during the last century. During this time there have been many opinions on the way students with differences should be taught and treated. This paper will discuss the history of special education during the twentieth century. We will also discuss the laws associated with Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Finally we will discuss the current and future challenges that the laws have on special education.