1. SPECIAL EDUCATION FRANCE VS. UNITED STATES
By: Charlotte (Jenn Clarke)

2. ON THE AGENDA What is special education?
What types of disabilities/disorders are there?
What are the steps in the special education process?
What are the branches of special education in France?
What are the laws of special education in America?
What is a special needs school?
What is an IEP?
What is inclusion?

3. What is special education?
Special needs disabilities and disorders
Special education is a field of education with programs designed for students who are mentally, physically, socially and/or emotionally delayed.
Physical Disorders
Psychiatric Disorders
Emotional Problems
Behavioral Problems
Learning Disorders/ Disabilities

4. STEPS IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROCESS
Referral
Evaluation
Eligibility
IEP
Procedural safeguards
A packet for the parents that explains the child's rights under IDEA
Placement
Monitoring

5. BRANCHES OF SPECIAL EDUCATION IN FRANCE
The Maison Départmentale des Personnes Handicapées (MDPH)
This branch evaluates a child's special needs
The Commission des Droits et de l’Autonomie des Personnes Handicapées (CDAPH)
This branch receives the results and creates a personalized program for the child
Project personnalisé de scolaristion (PPS)
The Services d’Education Spéciale et de Soins à Domicile (SESSAD)
This branch deals with children and teens with mental, motor and sensory disabilities
This branch provides a bridge between the traditional schooling and the extra school treatments and rehabilitation
The Classes d’Intégration Scolaire (CLIS)
This branch is for children with disabilities too severe for schooling in regular classes, but not requiring special facilities
It is like a special class within and ordinary elementary or secondary school
The Unités Pédagogiques d’Intégration (UPI)
This branch accommodate children with cognitive learning disorders
Children ranging in ages 12-16
Provides adapted school integration and partial participation through the teaching and activities

6. THE CLASSES D’INTÉGRATION SCOLAIRE (CLIS)
The CLIS has 4 main categories
CLIS 1 (D): Cognitive learning disorders, severe mental development limitations
CLIS 2 (A): Hearing Impairment
CLIS 3 (B): Visual Impairment
CLIS 4 (C): Physical disability and severe motor deficiency

7. THE FEDERAL LAWS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION IN AMERICA
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (1975)
Intended to assist children with disabilities to achieve high standards by
Promoting accountability
Enhancing parental involvements
Using proven practices and materials
Providing more flexibility
The Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973)
Children covered by a 504 have less severe disabilities than those covered by IDEA
Any person who has an impairment that substantially limits a major life activity is covered by a 504
A civil rights statue (1973) requires that schools not discriminate against children with disabilities and provide them with reasonable accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (1990)
Is a private sector
Requires all educational institutions to meet the needs of children with psychiatric disorders
Prohibits the denial of educational services, programs or activities to students with disabilities
Prohibits discrimination against all such students

8. KEY POINTS ABOUT IDEA
To be eligible for IDEA a child must be in one of these categories:
Serious emotional disturbance
Learning disabilities
Mental retardation
Traumatic brain injury
Autism
Visual/hearing impairments
Physical disabilities
The 6 principles of IDEA:
Zero reject
Free appropriate education
Least restrictive environment
Non-discriminatory education
Due process and procedural safeguards
Technology related services

9. SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOLS
Specialize in teaching students with learning, behavior, mental health, medical or intellectual disabilities
Each school specializes in one disability
It is rare that a special needs school specializes in more than one disability
The teachers and programs are designed to handle the particular needs of the children they have

10. WHAT IS AN IEP? An IEP is an individualized Education Plan
It is a plan/program developed to ensure that a child who had a disability identified under the law is attending an elementary/secondary educational institution, receives specialized instruction and related services.

11. WHAT IS INCLUSION?
Inclusion is the placement of disabled students with non- disabled students with appropriate services in place
The more popular idea in public school

12. WORKS CITED
Angloinfo. "Special Needs Education." n.d education/special-needs/. Website.
Dwight, Valle. "Special needs programs and schools: a primer." needs-learning-disabilities/. Website.
Education, European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive information/france/national-overview/special-needs-education-within- the-education-system Website.
Morin, Amanda. "IEP- Individualized Education Program." Website.
Psychiatry, American Academy of Child and Adolescent. "Services In School For Children With Special Needs: What Parents Need To Know." March es/FFF-Guide/Services-In-School-For-Children-With-Special-Needs- What-Parents-Need-To-Know-083.aspx. Website.
Teach. "What is Special Education?" n.d. education. Website.
Turchetta, Vincent. "Characteristics and Needs of Special Populations." Teacher.