Module 9: What is “Special” Education? Part 1
“I’m never just advocating for an undiagnosed child whose challenges don’t follow any script; I’m also a black mother advocating for my black son in a room full of people who don’t look like us.'” (Harris, 2022, n.p.)
Overview
A Message From Shaheen
Throughout this Guidebook, you have spent significant time examining what you think in your head and feel in your hearts about disability. This exploration, in my opinion, is the most important step to building your confidence and skills in teaching your future disabled students. You must have ideas in your mind and feelings in your heart that will facilitate your work with disabled students before it makes sense to explore the technical details of “special” education. In short, you must understand the why before you can fully devote yourself to the what. In this module, you will learn some of the basics of “special” education.
What I want you to remember is the big ideas about disability in your head and the feelings in your heart will have a bigger impact on how you treat and teach your future disabled students than your knowledge of the technical side of “special” education.
There will be many new concepts in this Module’s Engage sources and a lot of jargon (it is our way in education). Be patient with yourself as you learn these new concepts and terms.
Musical Moment
Self Doubt by GeorgeTragic (Insufficient Captions)
Transcript of Self Doubt by GeorgeTragic
|
Component |
Estimated Time to Complete |
|---|---|
|
Engage |
30-40 mins |
|
Reflect |
2 hrs |
|
Chat |
1 hr |
|
Self-Assess |
10-15 mins |
Engage
Required
|
Source |
Summary |
Estimated Time |
|---|---|---|
|
IDEA Introduction By Michael Kennedy on Vimeo Transcript: IDEA Introduction Transcript |
This video describes the 4 parts of the IDEA, and 4 federal outcomes that the IDEA is meant to achieve. IDEA is the law that created and continues to mandate “special” education |
6.5 mins |
|
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): What You Need to Know By Andrew M.I. Lee, JD at Understood |
This article explains the purpose and function of the IDEA. |
3.5-6 mins |
|
IDEA, Section 504, and ADA: Which Laws do What? By Andrew M.I. Lee at Understood |
This article explains and compares the three biggest laws pertaining to disability and education. |
3.5-6 mins |
|
What is an IEP? By Amanda Morin at Understood |
This video gives information about Individualized Education Programs. |
1.5-3 mins |
|
Least Restrictive Environment (LRE): What You Need to Know By Amanda Morin at Understood |
This article explains the principle of Least Restrictive Environments, and why it is important. |
3.5-6 mins |
|
10 Special Education Myths You May Hear By Amanda Morin at Understood |
This article explains common misconceptions that people have about how a “special” education placement will impact their child. |
3.5-6 mins |
|
Warren’s Story By Office of the Education Ombuds |
This video describes how assistive technology can support students’ learning in school. |
2.5-4.5 mins |
Optional
|
Source |
Summary |
Estimated Time |
|---|---|---|
|
The Difference Between IEPs and 504 Plans By Julie Rawe at Understood |
This resource explains the legal and functional differences between IEPs and 504 Plans. |
4-8 mins |
|
Demystifying Disability: Ch. 3 An (Incomplete) Overview of Disability History By Emily Ladau |
In Chapter 3, Ladau takes the reader decade-by-decade to highlight the ups and downs of disability history. |
26-32 mins |
Reflect
Use the prompts below as a jumping off point. Do not let the prompts confine your reflection.
- What concepts or thinking tools can help you organize and synthesize the information in this module’s Engage sources?
- Maybe you can see the clear connection between IDEA, IEPs, and LRE and explaining that in words helps you. Or maybe drawing a concept map helps you make sense of the information.
- What questions do you have about “special” education law, practice, or theory based on what you have learned so far?
Chat
Use the prompts below as a jumping off point for a conversation with others in your class or community.
- Share the organizing concepts or thinking tools that you developed in Reflect to help you digest and synthesize the information from this module’s Engage sources.
- Where should disabled students be educated and who should be responsible for their education?
Self-Assess
- What idea/concept from this module was the CLEAREST to you?
- What idea/concept from this module was the MUDDIEST to you?
- Rate your knowledge on the ideas discussed in this module
- Expert
- Mastered
- Competent
- Still Developing
- Undeveloped
FAQ
Q1: Do all disabled students have the same rights under the IDEA law?
A1: Generally, yes. But parts of the law only apply to some children. For example, Part B of IDEA pertains to children ages 3-21 and Part C pertains to children ages birth-2.
Q2: There are so many acronyms, what do they all mean?
A2: Below is a cheat sheet.
ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act
FAPE: Free and Appropriate Public Education
IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
IEP: Individualized Education Program
LRE: Least Restrictive Environment
