1. STEPHEN BYRD SCHOOL OF EDUCATION ELON UNIVERSITY Disability and Equity In Special Education: Where Do We Go From Here?

2. Introduction:

3. Session Goals Gain an understanding of special education and disabilities Gain an understanding the issues of surrounding equity in special education Think about next steps

4. Agenda: What is special education? Disability Disproportionality Conclusion

5. “Special education means specially designed instruction that meets the unusual needs of an exceptional student, and which might require special materials teaching techniques equipment and/or facilities.” (Hallahan, Kauffman, & Pullen, 2009, p. 12)

6. AN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE INEQUITY OF STUDENTS WHO WERE NOT RECEIVING A FREE AND PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL. Special Education…

7. Facts About 6 million students are enrolled in special education. About 14% of the school population has an identified disability of some type. About 78% of the students with disabilities spend a large portion of the day in the general education classroom.

8. A Look at the Law Public Law 94-142 - Education for All Handicapped Children Act (1975) Signed by Gerald Ford Zero reject Non-discriminatory evaluation Individualized Education Plan Least Restrictive Environment Due process Parental participation

9. A Look at the Law: Public Law 99-457: EHA 1986  Infants and toddlers  Reduce likelihood of institutionalization  Family support Public Law 101-476 – Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) 1990  Transition  Autism and traumatic brain injury categories added ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)  Civil Rights for those with disabilities  After age 21

10. A Look at the Law IDEA 1997  Parent Participation  Participation in testing IDEA 2004  Use of scientifically-based instruction for identifying learning disabilities  In most places – Response-to-intervention (RTI)  Mandated testing  Paperwork reduction  Use of funding for intervention programs  Parent Involvement

11. What are the defining features of Special Education? Appropriate indentification Individually planned Specialized Intensive Goal-directed Using research-based methods Guided by student performance

12. DISABILITY…

13. “A DISABILITY IS AN INABILITY TO DO SOMETHING THAT MOST PEOPLE, WITH TYPICAL MATURATION, OPPORTUNITY, OR INSTRUCTION CAN DO. KAUFFMAN ET AL, 2005, P. 30

14. General signs: Persistence of the problem Severity of the problem Speed of progress Motivation Parental concerns

15. Disability Categories High Incidence Disabilities: Learning Disabilities Communication Disorders Intellectual Disability Emotional/Behavioral Disorders Autism Other Health Impaired (OHI) Developmental delay – until age 8 Low Incidence Disabilities: Multiple disabilities Hearing Impairment Visual Impairment Traumatic Brain Injury Other Impairment

16. Types of Placements General Education classroom with supports Resource classroom Self-contained classroom Special school Hospital setting Home-bound

17. MICHAEL, JUNE… The Case of…

18. Assessment Process for Identification Initial Screening – whole school assessment of skills Pre-referral – Student Assistance Team Referral – Period when testing is conducted Eligibility – Meeting for stakeholders to decide on special education decisions IEP – Meeting for planning the special education supports and services

19. “THE REPRESENTATION OF A GROUP IN A CATEGORY THAT EXCEEDS OUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THAT GROUP, OR DIFFERS SUBSTANTIALLY FROM THE REPRESENTATIONS OF OTHERS IN THAT CATEGORY” ARTILES, KOZLESKI, TRENT, OSHER, & ORTIZ, 2008, P. 266 Disproportionality…

20. Ways to Measure: Composition index  The extent to which a group is over- or underrepresented in a category compared to its proportion in the broader population  33% labeled intellectual disability while 17% of the general population Risk index  The extent to which a group is found eligible for service at a rate differing from that of other groups

21. Students Ages 6-21 Served under IDEA, by Race/Ethnicity (Fall 2007) in the US and outlying areas

24. North Carolina

25. Where do we go from here? Teacher Education programs Policy Greater care in testing, evaluation, and interpretation Working with stakeholders at the pre-referral stage Response to intervention

26. Remember the kids…

27. Effective Teaching…

28. Reaching out to families…

29. Learn internationally…

30. See Strengths…and work together

31. References: Hallahan, D. P., Kauffman, J. M., & Pullen, P. C. (2009). Exceptional learners: An introduction to special education. (11 th ed.). Allyn & Bacon. Various Authors. (2008). Special Issue: Culturally, diverse exceptional students: Remembering the past, looking toward the future. Exceptional Children, 74, 262-399.

32. Thank you for attending. I will put these materials up on my Elon website at: http://facstaff.elon.edu/sbyrd2/