Serving students with special needs
Investing in all students through equitable education
IMAGE CREATED BY JIGSAWSTOCKER |
Brandman University, EDAD 612
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IMAGE CREATED BY JIGSAWSTOCKER |
Brandman University, EDAD 612
|
In this ever-changing world, our students are in a constant state of change, continuously evolving/morphing into today’s societal needs. Now what does that mean for our students and how we serve their needs? It means we must adapt and work hard to accomplish giving our students the tools/resources they need to be successful. With that said, it is also important to understand/know the diverse populations of our sites, special needs included.
Now let’s go back to the early 1960’s when special education first appeared on the map. Prior to 60’s there weren’t many options for families to take when it came to educating their children with special needs/disabilities. It wasn’t until parents began to form advocacy groups that got recognition from president John F. Kennedy, who later jumped in and formed the President’s Panel of Mental Retardation that any change seemed to be coming. Kennedy’s panel included recommendations such as, “federal aid to states,” and In 1965, “Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which provided funding for primary education, and is seen by advocacy groups as expanding access to public education for children with disabilities” (http://www.specialednews.com). However, despite these two major events in educational history, by the 70’s, a relatively small number of special needs students were being educated in the public school system. Until two major federal laws would change all that. In 1975, both the EHA (Education for All Handicapped Children Act) and the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) Acts were enacted and rest as many people say is history. “The EHA established a right to public education for all children regardless of disability, while the IDEA required schools provide individualized or special education for children with qualifying disabilities” (http://www.specialednews.com) |