Module 5, Transparency #1

Assisting Students with Disabilities:

A Training Program for Paraeducators

Module 5:

Learning AboutDisabilities

Module 5, Transparency #2

Instructional Objectives: To describe a variety of

positive and negative ways of viewing people with disabilities

To describe key principles and practices of Special Education

To describe several ways paraeducators can assist students with disabilities

To be familiar with Kentucky’s 13 disability categories and ways for assisting students with these specific disabilities

Module 5:Learning About Disabilities

Module 5, Transparency #3

Module Overview

General Disability Issues

Special Education Supporting Students

with Disabilities Kentucky Disability

Categories

Module 5, Transparency #4

General Disability Issues

Stereotypes & prejudice Commonly-held beliefs Beliefs about a group of

people Usually negative Assumptions about an

individual person, without even knowing the person

Lead to unfair practices (discrimination)

Lead to mistaken judgments

Module 5, Transparency #5

General Disability Issues

Valuing people with disabilities: Positive contributions Strengths & abilities Self-determination Relationships Full citizenship

What can you do to demonstrate these values?

Module 5, Transparency #6

General Disability Issues

Use considerate language

“Person first” Introduce by name and

interests, not by disability Use real names of

disabilities, not slang or derogatory terms

“Uses a wheelchair” (not “wheelchair-bound”)

Module 5, Transparency #7

Special Education

The recent past: school exclusion for youth with disabilities

The present: Acknowledgement that

students with disabilities CAN benefit from education

Laws to protect the rights of people with disabilities, including the rights of children and youth to education

Module 5, Transparency #8

Special Education

IDEA 1997

Educational rights for children and youth ages 0-21

Children are eligible for certain services if they have a disability and need specially-designed instruction in order to benefit from school

6 key principles

Module 5, Transparency #9

Special Education

Other laws that may affect children and youth with disabilities: The Rehabilitation Act -

employment-related services

Section 504 (of the Rehab Act) - requires schools to provide accommodations)

ADA – prohibits discrimination in all activities & programs

Tech Act – helps states provide assistive technology

Module 5, Transparency #10

Special Education

Inclusion Teaching students with

disabilities alongside typical peers as much as possible (“least restrictive environment”)

More difficult than teaching students in segregated settings

More humane and beneficial

Module 5, Transparency #11

Special Education

Inclusion – how can it be done well? Daily collaboration

between special education teacher, general education teacher, para, and any other service providers

Prepare for multiple levels of instruction within the same activity/lesson

Recognize that fairness means equal opportunity to learn

Module 5, Transparency #12

Supporting Studentswith Disabilities

Get information about the student

Collaborate with the instructional team

Look for opportunities to help the student with social skills and relationships

Help with coping, problem-solving, self-determination…

Module 5, Transparency #13

Supporting Studentswith Disabilities

Work cooperatively with the student’s parents Encourage their

participation in their son/daughter’s education

Appreciate their expertise Provide referral information Be forgiving &

understanding Maintain a professional

relationship (not a close friendship)

Module 5, Transparency #14

Kentucky Disability Categories To be eligible for Special

Education in Kentucky, a student must meet criteria for at least 1 of the following 13 disability categories:

1) Developmental Delay2) Orthopedic Impairment3) Speech or Language

Impairment4) Visual Impairment

Module 5, Transparency #15

Kentucky Disability Categories

5) Hearing Impairment6) Deaf-Blindness7) Autism8) Emotional-Behavioral

Disability9) Specific Learning

Disability10) Mental Disability11) Traumatic Brain Injury12) Other Health Impairment13) Multiple Disabilities