Chapter Summary:
In Chapter 1, you will learn who exceptional children are and their attributes. You will also learn how many exceptional children there are and how many have received special education services. This chapter also explains why we label and classify children with special needs. You will also learn why we have laws in place to govern the education of exceptional children. This chapter also outlines the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Learning Outcomes:
• Distinguish among the following terms: impairment, disability, handicap, and at risk.
• Identify the percentage of school-age children served in special education and name the most prevalent disability categories.
• Explain why disability labels do not tell us what and how to teach and why labels are used in special education.
• Identify key court cases and federal legislation that have led to mandates for a free appropriate education for children with disabilities.
• Define and give examples of each of the three types of intervention—preventive, remedial, and compensatory.
• Describe the defining dimensions of special education.
• Identify challenges facing the field of special education.
Reflection Questions:
1. What experiences have you had in your life with people with disabilities? Were these experiences positive or negative? Explain your response.
2. Children with exceptionalities are more like other children than they are different. What specific examples illustrate this point?
Chapter Activity:
Warch the video, What is special education?
Answer the following questions:
What is IDEA?
What is an IEP?
What is a 504?