An Introduction to Teaching Music to Children with Special Needs Ryan Hourigan Ph. D. Ball State University

Landscape of Special Education 1960’s Civil Rights Movement Desegregation Equal rights for all people Pre 1970’s Invisible People Basements Institutions Many persons with disabilities did not receive an education (Adamek & Darrow, 2005)

PL 94-142 or IDEA Six Basic Principles FAPE (Free and Appropriate Education) Nondiscriminatory evaluations LRE (Least Restrictive Environment) IEP Parents have rights Due Process Amended several times since (86,90,97,&04)

Inclusion/Mainstreaming Why????? (From Class) Inclusion “Meaningful participation of students with special needs in general education classrooms” (Lewis & Doorlag, p. 424) Mainstreaming (older term) The inclusion of students with special needs into general education for a portion of the school day

How can I begin to teach a student with a disability? “The Team” Participating in the process The IEP process Understanding the Disability Adaptation of Instruction Assessing Adaptations and Accommodations Thinking “outside of the box”

“The Team” Anyone who teaches a child with disabilities is a part of the IEP team Be involved (go to meetings) Seek out the document (IEP) Read the goals for the student in each area This will help you understand the nature of the disability Ideas for adapting and accommodating

Understanding the Disability Talk to the other members of “The Team” Resources (see materials given) The Music Therapy World Wide range of research on teaching students with disabilities

Adaptation of Instruction Assessing your student Is the student “diploma bound”? Setting appropriate goals (Consult the team) Also see the IEP Other assessments in other areas Are they at grade level?

Accommodating Students with Special Needs EXTREMELY CONTEXTUAL Think outside of the box My research See resources and information Adamek and Darrow (2005) Reference list given

Issues with Inclusion Persons with disabilities are more likely to be behind in social development Persons with disabilities are more likely to face social isolation Persons with special needs encounter failure more often (Lewis & Doorlag, 2005)

Attitudes Previous Special Education System Teachers and Adults Isolate and remove Teachers and Adults From the old way Inform children Information can change attitudes

Jason My research Personal

Questions