Overview of Special Education January January 15, 2009

Beyond the Letter of the Law “Special education is more than a service…it is an attitude.”

Who Is Served by Special Education? The 13 categories (see figure 1.1): Specific Learning Disabilities Speech/Communication Disorders Mental Retardation Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities Other Health Impairments Orthopedic Impairments Traumatic brain Injury Autism Severe/Multiple Disabilities Vision Impairments Hearing Impairments Deaf/Blind Developmental Delay

Components of Special Education Instructional content Instructional procedures Instructional environment Instructional technology

Consider This… A young man in a wheelchair has been left at the front of the building in a snowstorm. A custodian is shoveling the steps. The young man asks the custodian, “Would you mind shoveling the ramp?” The custodian replies, “Sure, as soon as I am finished with the stairs”. Consider This… A young man in a wheelchair has been left at the front of the building in a snowstorm. A custodian is shoveling the steps. The young man asks the custodian, “Would you mind shoveling the ramp?” The custodian replies, “Sure, as soon as I am finished with the stairs”. Consider This… A young man in a wheelchair has been left at the front of the building in a snowstorm. A custodian is shoveling the steps. The young man asks the custodian, “Would you mind shoveling the ramp?” The custodian replies, “Sure, as soon as I am finished with the stairs”.

Questions to Consider… 1. What do you think the custodian was thinking? 2. What do you think the student was thinking? 3. What are your thoughts on this situation? Please write out a response to #3 on a sheet of paper. This is an anonymous activity, so do not put your name on your paper.

Universal Design “the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design” (Center on Universal Design, 1997)

Definition of Universal Design for Learning “In terms of learning, universal design means the design of instructional materials and activities that allows the learning goals to be achievable by individuals with wide differences in their abilities…” (Orkwis & McLane, 1998)

What Universal Design Is Not… One size fits all

A Misunderstanding of UD

Elements of Universal Design Multiple means of representation Information, materials, and instructional delivery Multiple means of expression Student activities and assessments Multiple means of engagement Physical, cognitive, and emotional engagement

Tenets of universal Design Challenging learning outcomes are achievable by learners with a wide variety of differences Flexibility is embedded, not implemented after the fact Flexible curricular materials and activities create access to instruction and learning Flexibility benefits all learners, not just those with disabilities Universal design does not segregate students, but allows them to work together Universal design applies general accommodations to all students Universal design focuses on choice and self-direction