Special Education For Differently Able Children

Special Education is that component of education which employs special instructional methodology, instructional materials, learning-teaching aids and equipment to meet educational needs of children with specific learning disabilities. Some children are easily identified as candidates for special needs from their medical history. They may have been diagnosed with a genetic condition that is associated with mental retardation, may have various forms of brain damage, may have a developmental disorder, may have visual or hearing disabilities, or other disabilities. Special education teachers work with children and youths who have a variety of disabilities. A small number of special education teachers work with students with mental retardation or autism, primarily teaching them life skills and basic literacy. However, the majority of special education teachers work with children with mild to moderate disabilities, using the general education curriculum, or modifying it, to meet the child's individual needs.

As many as one in five children experience some kind of difficulty in learning at some time during their school life. Most children receive the extra help they need from their school. Some children may need more specialist help. The law says that a child has special educational needs if the child has learning difficulties or disabilities that make it harder for them to learn than most children of the same age. These children may need extra or different help from that given to other children the same age. The extra help a child receives will be matched to their level of difficulty. Most children's needs will be met by their school, through a range of interventions. The teachers consult with parents and together with the special educational needs coordinator they draw up a plan of action for the child.

A statutory assessment is a detailed assessment of the child's special educational needs. This can sometimes lead to a statement of special educational needs although there are no guarantees that this will happen. The aim of the assessment is to find out what special educational needs the child has and what special help the child will need to meet those needs. Students with deficiencies in their working memory can be provided with a list of vocabulary, called a word bank, can be provided during tests, to reduce lack of recall and increase chances of comprehension. Students might use a calculator when other students are not. Care and love are the two basic requirements that special children need. We should approach these special children not with a heart full of pity, but with a helping hand that they can hold and walk gracefully.