More than 6 million students receive exceptional student education services, according to the U.S. Department of Education. In 2004, the Office of Special Education Programs found that students with specific learning disabilities accounted for almost half (47.4%) of all students with disabilities, which was roughly 2.9 million students being served (U.S. Department of Education, 2004). Students with disabilities drop out of high school at about twice the rate of general education students (Thurlow, Sinclair, and Johnson, 2002). They are also less likely to go back and earn their high school diploma as compared to their counterparts without disabilities. School administrators and personnel are encouraged to create collaborative partnerships with parents and after-school programs to improve outcomes for these students. Recommendations for schools are provided in this 3-part series entitled “Students with Disabilities: Creating Collaborative Partnership.”
Tips for Schools
1. Minimize language barriers for parents and students by providing translators and translating necessary paperwork.
2. Hold a special orientation day for parents with students with disabilities before the
start of school.
3. Introduce key staff to parents and students and their respective job duties as they related to facilitating ESE services.
4. Include disability resources in the school’s student handbook. If there is not a
school specific handbook, provide parents with a packet listing relevant resources available at the school, in the community, and on the internet.
5. Support or provide general education teachers with training and support relevant to providing instructional services to students with disabilities.
6. Invite guest speakers to participate in PTA or parent meetings to educate parents about their child’s disability and/or available resources.
7. Encourage and stress the importance to parents regarding their participation in their child’s IEP meetings.
8. Encourage and allow parents to bring advocates to their child’s IEP meetings.
9. Don’t talk down or over parents. Instead of speaking in acronyms or technical language, try to speak in a way that facilitates parent understanding of the educational process.
10. Make sure parents understand the process, timeline and consequences of all decisions made regarding their child’s education.
11. Encourage parents to have their child to participate in either on or off-site
after-school programs.
12. Include a listing of local after-school programs in introductory packets sent out to parents during the first few weeks of school.
13. Network with community providers to create collaborative partnerships.
14. Invite community providers to speak with appropriate staff regarding their services to connect students with available community programs and services.
15. Collaborate with afterschool programs to reinforce instructional learning.
Resources:
Learning Disability Association of America (LDA)
4156 Library Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15234
http://www.ldaamerica.org/
National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY)
PO Box 1492
Washington, DC 20013
http://www.kidsource.com/NICHCY/
By: Felecia Sheffield PhD
Posts Tagged ‘Instructional Services’
Special Education Programs in San Jose Schools
October 3rd, 2009
San Jose Schools know that special education is just as important as a regular classroom setting. This is why they have created a very diverse special education program in all of their schools. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensures that your child can receive a free public school education tailored for their individual needs in the least restrictive environment (LRE) available.
What Special Education Programs are Available in San Jose Schools?
There are many special education programs available in San Jose Schools because of the very broad nature of the term “special education.” An Individualized Education Program (IEP) can help you and your child pick what is best for him.
Ï Regular Classroom: In some cases, all your child may need to have the least restrictive environment in San Jose Schools is a regular classroom with modified exercises done in consultation with a member of the special education staff.
Ï Designated Instructional Services: The DIS program in San Jose Schools provides students with different services in order to help them succeed in any setting. This may include speech therapy, occupational therapy and many others.
Ï Special Day Class: San Jose Schools provides a special day class for those students needing more than 50% of their classroom time in a special education classroom. There are four types of special day classes available in San Jose Schools. The autism focused classroom setting helps younger students with autism meet their educational and physical goals, especially speech and behavioral needs. There is also a special day class for emotionally disturbed students in San Jose Schools. These students receive an education based on the traditional core curriculum but specially tailored to fit their individual needs. Lower functioning students also receive a quality education in San Jose Schools because there is a classroom designed for their needs. It addresses independent living skills and also domestic and vocational skills as well.
Ï Workability: The workability program in San Jose Schools provides high-risk special education students with help in obtaining a job. The student must be dependable and want to work as well as having full teacher and parental support. High-risk students show the most signs of dropping out of school because of their special educational needs. The workability program works with the student’s teacher in order to find a job that compliments what the teacher has been teaching and the student’s individual needs.
Overall, San Jose Schools have several different options for any student needing special education services. In a world where education gets your everywhere, this is especially important because it all those students with learning disabilities to get a quality education as well. Just because your child may have a learning disability doesn’t necessarily mean that he can’t function on the same level as someone who doesn’t. San Jose Schools make sure that your child reaches his maximum potential.
By: Patricia Hawke
