Special Education
Within the Bear Givers community, we understand the specific care and attention that neurodiverse children require to learn and reach their potential. Because of the pandemic, we’ve come to realize more than ever the importance of dedicated teachers in helping their students learn practical and social skills alongside their curriculum.
Special education doesn’t mean slower, or putting kids in a separate classroom all day, it means understanding what every child needs to learn, and providing that for them. In order to better understand how we can appreciate and move education forward for neurodiverse children we should take the time to understand how it all started.
Children with differing needs and abilities have been around for as long as everyone else, but were never given the opportunity to thrive. That is, until 1975 when The Education for All Hanicapped Children Act (EHA) established the right for all children, regardless of disability, access to public education. At the time, more than half of students with disabilities spent the majority of their time in general education classrooms, not receiving the specialized attention and patience to ensure their education. As a result, many children with disabilities were not receiving a proper education, thus not being adequately prepared for an adult life. In the 70’s the EHA underwent substantial revisions in efforts to better serve children and became known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This Act placed more emphasis on IEPs or individual education plans, that are still used today to ensure every individual can create the path that is best suited to them and their needs. This new law spurred research on what the most effective education for special needs students looks like, to ensure an equal education for all.
Under IDEA, schools began to understand there were students that needed more patience and attention to thrive, thus special education programs were established around the nation. All school districts now offer a full evaluation to students whose families or teachers think they may be eligible for special needs programs.
There are great benefits and negatives when children with special needs continue their education within general classrooms, ( a fully inclusive education). Firstly, research shows that even children without disabilities receive similar benefits when participating in a more inclusive environment. Typically, special education creates a more patient environment that allows children to go at their pace. One special education teacher notes how a separate classroom for her students allows for a smaller class size where she can “work with students through differentiated instruction.” Every child learns differently, but when those differences are exasperated by the environmental stimulants that come with larger general classrooms, the needs of children with special requirements sometimes cannot be met.
However, continuing education within general classrooms can also help children develop social and emotional skills that are harder to develop in smaller classrooms. These skills are especially important to develop for children with special needs as they can have greater difficulties expressing themselves, and feeling comfortable with others. For skills like these, practice makes perfect, and the best place to practice these skills is at home, and in the classroom with their peers. Special needs education is important in the development of your child, but that shouldn’t discount the importance of general classroom time with other children. A perfect example of this is SINAI Schools, as they curate their classrooms so children of varying abilities are matched based on their skills and personalities. Their classrooms host a variety of abilities, specialities, and levels, so they are able to create a general classroom feel without taking away from the specialized education and attention that everyone has. Even if you’ve already settled on a fully specialized education for your child, consider other after-school activities and programs. We partner with multiple programs such as Kool Kids Passaic (in NJ), and the Friendship Circle (with chapters all over) that offer services and community for children with special needs!
As a parent, the decision is always yours when considering an inclusive, semi inclusive or completely specialized education for your child. IEPs not only offer special education plans and resources, but important classroom accommodations and specialized services. As a parent of a child with special needs, you should absolutely make the most of all services offered to the development of your child. Here’s a comprehensive post on what is required to be included in IEPs. Stay informed and remember that even if your child is not enrolled in a specialized school, standard schools can provide most services, and you can always find outside providers.
Good luck in this back to school season! We look forward to seeing how special education continues to change and improve for our community!