I could change the way that we provide services to children with disabilities, I would include more teacher and parent training and provide more resources for teachers to use within the classroom. Teachers in the state of California are required to take one special education course to clear their credential. This is only one course that is supposed to prepare or refresh teachers about accommodating students with special needs. Teachers need professional development training at the job site to help them successfully meet the academic, emotional, and social needs of special education students. For example, my first year of teaching I taught an eighth grade science class. I was told, via paper, that I would have a student with tourettes syndrome. I had no idea what tourettes was. In retrospect, I could have provided more support services, such as flexible seating, a positive classroom climate that was tolerate and respectful of his disorder, and time to excuse himself from the room if he had some involuntary movements that were excessive and may cause him embarrassment among his peers. I was in need of professional development.
Parents also need training to help understand the learning disability, learn ways that they can assist their child at home, and meet other parents who share similar experiences. Of times, parents are a loss as to what they can do for their child. Or worse, they have given up hope that they can positively impact their childs education. It would be ideal of the school site or at least the county had support groups and training for parents of learning disabled child.
Lastly, teachers are in need of resources to assist their students. We, as teachers, have an expectation by the state and federal government that we will teach state standards and that students will master them. However, often times schools do not have adequate funding to purchase new software or other support materials to benefit students. In fact, I was surprised that this year our special education department did not have any funding. If schools are truly preparing students for the twenty first century, then they need adequate funding to replace outdated materials and be able to purchase support materials that will benefit our special education students
Parents also need training to help understand the learning disability, learn ways that they can assist their child at home, and meet other parents who share similar experiences. Of times, parents are a loss as to what they can do for their child. Or worse, they have given up hope that they can positively impact their childs education. It would be ideal of the school site or at least the county had support groups and training for parents of learning disabled child.
Lastly, teachers are in need of resources to assist their students. We, as teachers, have an expectation by the state and federal government that we will teach state standards and that students will master them. However, often times schools do not have adequate funding to purchase new software or other support materials to benefit students. In fact, I was surprised that this year our special education department did not have any funding. If schools are truly preparing students for the twenty first century, then they need adequate funding to replace outdated materials and be able to purchase support materials that will benefit our special education students
