by JCSprenger

Created on: August 06, 2009

The Special Aspects of Special Education

Many parents feel confused when told their child has qualified for the label of special education; some even reject the program outright, believing erroneously that the student would be stigmatized by his/her peers and denied the educational opportunities given to "regular" students. Allow me to expose the myths and misunderstandings that abound in this highly important area.

Careful Diagnosis

In order to be considered "disabled" academically, a child has to undergo rigorous testing by qualified professionals such as school psychologists and diagnosticians. While the term "disability" has negative connotations - which is why I much prefer to use the term "special needs" - it does reflect a glitch in the way the brain processes information. One classical example is "dyslexia" which literally means reading problems. We also have "dysgraphia", a term used to explain why some children have trouble writing. We don't know precisely why and where this glitch occurs; all we know is that some students take longer to decipher the squiggles that we call letters. This additional time is one of the accommodations that the school system will recommend for such as child. Imagine for example looking at a page written in Chinese and you will have a general idea of what the dyslexic students face (unless of course you know Chinese).

We Are All Special

Once thing we have to understand is that every child, no matter their intelligence and skills, has special needs. The highly intelligent may face hostility from their peers as they breeze through the academic material. They require special attention from their teachers as they carry the label of "Gifted and Talented." Other children are extremely shy and diffident; they also require special attention. Others are overactive, restless and need to move constantly. We are all unique human beings, with our qualities and defects, and excellent teachers will recognize that and act accordingly.

The Stigmas, Real or Imagined?

When a child receives the label of special education, many parents wonder whether they will be ridiculed by their peers and thus suffer a lower self-esteem. While it is true that these situations take place occasionally, in the long run the benefits will outweigh the problems. Good teachers in elementary will take the necessary measures to develop tolerance and understanding among their very young students. Counselors and special education teachers will work

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>