Introduction to Special Education

1. Chapter 1
Teaching Students with
Special Educational Needs:
Professional Roles and
Responsibilities
Based on: Special Education for Today’s Teachers: An Introduction,
by Rosenberg, Westling, and McLeskey (second edition)

2. Chapter 1 Questions
• What is special education about “special education?”
• Who do special education teachers teach?
• Where do they teach?
• What other professionals provide services to students
with special needs?
• What are the keys to be a successful teacher for all
students?

3. Perspectives on Special Education
• Parent: A hard-fought civil rights victory for
access to a free appropriate education.
• Administrator: Concern about expense of
delivering services as required by federal law.
• General Ed Teacher: Inclusion of students with
disabilities who need content enhancements.
• Special Ed Teacher: Providing individualized
instruction and support to students.
• Student: Receiving assistance and equipment that
allow participation in activities with classmates.

4. What is “Special” about Special Ed?
Nine Distinguishing Characteristics
• Pacing • Pupil-teacher ratio
• Intensity • Curriculum
• Relentlessness • Monitoring/assessing
• Structure • Collaboration
• Reinforcement

5. Public School Disability Categories
• Autism • Multiple disabilities
• Deaf-blindness • Orthopedic impairments
• Deafness • Other health impairments
• Emotional disturbance • Speech or language
• Hearing impairments impairments
• Learning disabilities • Traumatic brain injury
• Intellectual disability • Visual impairments and
(i.e., mental retardation) blindness
How many students with disabilities receive services?

6. Special Education Settings
• General education classroom (co-teaching)
• Part-time special class/resource room
• Full-time self-contained special classroom in
regular school
• Full-time, self-contained class in separate school
for students with disabilities
• Residential school for students with disabilities
• Student’s home or hospital
What percentage of students with disabilities are educated in regular
classrooms?

7. Other Service Providers
• School psychologists
• Physical and occupational therapists
• Speech/language pathologists
• Social workers
• School guidance counselors
• Art, music, and recreational therapists
• Paraeducators

8. Being a Good Teacher of ALL Students
• Respect and value human differences
• Commitment and positive attitude
• Caring, fairness, and respect
• Enthusiasm, motivation, and dedication
• Personal teaching efficacy
• Evidence-based teaching approaches