Do you have a child with autism, or a learning disability that is in a regular classroom? Do you have a child with another disability that is in a self contained classroom, and you would like them to receive some mainstreaming? This article will discuss the individuals with disabilities education act (IDEA) requirements, for least restrictive environment (LRE), and how you can use them to benefit your child’s education.
IDEA states: “To the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities . . . are educated with children who are non disabled.” What this means is that children with disabilities, have the right to be educated with children without disabilities.
IDEA also states: “Special classes, separate schooling or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment occurs only if the nature and severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.”
IDEA requires a continuum of placement options. These options start in the regular classroom go to a special class, special school, hospital program etc.
Ways to use LRE to help your child:
1. Use the requirements of LRE, to gain access for your child to the regular classroom curriculum. Many studies have shown that children with disabilities that have access to the regular education curriculum, do better in their education. LRE requires that placement option discussions need to start at the regular classroom, and then become more restrictive, as the child’s disability warrants.
2.If your child requires a self contained placement, use the requirements of LRE to help them receive mainstreaming. When a child is young 5-9 years, there are a lot of opportunities for interaction with non disabled children. Lunch, recess, arts and crafts, music, special parties or projects. Children with behavioral issues can learn appropriate behavior by having contact with non disabled children.
3. Use the LRE requirements of IDEA to get your child a placement other than the regular classroom, if their educational needs require it. Many school districts only offer an inclusive (regular education) placement; which they are not allowed to do under the “continuum of placement options” in IDEA.
4. Use the LRE requirements of IDEA to get your child “supplementary aids and services” that will help your child succeed in the regular classroom. These aids and services can be anything that your child needs in order to benefit from a regular classroom placement. For Example: A classroom aide, an individual aide, shorter assignments, tape recorder, modified curriculum, modified or shorter tests, ability to take tests verbally, etc. The list is endless, just depends on your child’s educational needs.
By knowing the least restrictive environment requirements, you will be able to successfully advocate for the placement that will meet your child’s educational needs. Remember that LRE is different for each child, depending on their disability and needs.
By: JoAnn Collins
Posts Tagged ‘Classroom Curriculum’
Special Kids Need Teachers With Special Education Degrees – Qualify And Make A Difference
October 3rd, 2009
To put children who are challenged and have special needs into the mainstream classrooms is not really an intelligent thing to do. Children with special needs require teachers with a special education degree. Professionals with a special education degree are rare these days and many administrators are finding it hard to recruit and hire qualified teachers. There is a desperate need for professionals who understand the various learning styles for students who have learning disabilities. Having a special education degree itself, guarantees long-term employment.
Teaching, as it is, is already a difficult job and the difficulty increases when teaching those who have learning disabilities like dyslexia. Students who have behavior problems like Attention Deficit or Hyperactivity Disorder can take a toll on a regular classroom curriculum and need to be taught separately keeping their condition in mind. Among the diverse population of students who have special needs includes children with autistic disorder. This puzzling disorder makes it nearly impossible for some of these children to function in a regular classroom.
Regular and traditional teachers cannot impart the required quality of education in the learning support classes due to lack of knowledge necessary to help challenging students. Only teachers who have a special education degree have the knowledge necessary to help challenging students meet their academic goals. A teacher needs to have training on how to use the latest teaching strategies to help this diverse population learn to its greatest capacity.
The strategies required for teaching challenging students are quite different than the ones used in the traditional classroom. Once a teacher has earned a special education degree, he is properly trained to help such students learn to their greatest capacity. These unique strategies are effective in helping nearly any student function well in the classroom setting.
There are a good number of different programs available for anyone who wants to earn a special education degree. Many of the courses can be taken online in the comfort of your own home and at your convenience.
A teacher with a special education degree becomes an asset for the school by enhancing its reputation and is thus sought after by many school systems across the United States.
By: Scotie Keithlow
