"I just joined My Special Needs Network :)"
A network to share best practices for children with special needs
Acceptence in the classroom
I am a third and fourth grade teacher, a grad student, and a mother of a daughter with special needs. (LD, expressive speech and language, ADHD) She will be in my classroom this upcoming school year in our private school.
I need to do a project for my grad class, Behavioral and Emotional Disabilities. The project is supposed to incorporate what we learn in class into our classroom. I decided that I would like to come up with ways to help my students learn to be accepting of other students with special needs. (I guess that it's an anti-bullying plan written in a positive light.)
From your experiences, what has been done, or what would like to see be done in order to have classmates be more accepting of students with special needs?
Thank you!
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Becky D. Smith on -
I have been involved with two different school districts in setting up a program we call "Ability Awareness". I wrote about it in a previous blog last month. The specialists from our school get together to decide which areas we will present to the whole school based upon the students with disabilities in our school. We spend one week taking the entire school through training to get a better understanding of "abilities" of people with numerous disabilities. We have presented simulations and speakers for cerebral palsy, vision impairments, emotional difficulties, autism, sensory issues, learning disabilities, dyslexia, dysgraphia, physical impairments, intellectual disabilities, hearing loss, speech and language impairments, ADHD, brain injury, etc. We have had speakers come and talk with students in class or whole group assemblies. We have had simulations to get a better understanding of the disability. Most importantly is to get feedback from the whole school and how it made them feel when they were involved in simulations. The yearly training lasts all year, not just one week. My plan is to add "Ability Awareness" simulations to our Back to School Night with parents. I have found that acceptance from students comes from parental acceptance of individuals with differences. What students see and hear from home affects how they feel when they get to school. www.kindacts.org has wonderful certificates to present to students showing Kindness to others. Last year our school presented more than 50 certificates to deserving students showing respect and kindness. It is free and is absolutely something you should try. In addition to our school-wide program, a school psychologist from another district and I have presented "Ability Awareness" numerous times to the professional organization CSEA. Being able to talk about disabilities takes away the fear of being with individuals who learn or behave differently. We have had success for more than 24 years with this program.
-
Permalink Reply by Christopher Peter Korman on -
I believe since budget cuts are so rampant that mainstreaming will increase and that only causes a a elevation of bullying and childrens maturation process for delaying even more .I think if school districts are going to spend money allocated for special ed issues on other issues then they have to be willing to take the grunt of law suits and rebellion.The only way to counter act corruption is to take our fate back in our own hands We have social unrest because our Government won't hold itself accountable for not practicing ethics and morals and values that they demand the rest of the world live by.The fact is I'm more ashamed of being an American citizen then I'm being disabled.
-
Permalink Reply by Christopher Peter Korman on
-
Christopher Peter Korman said:
I believe since budget cuts are so rampant that mainstreaming will increase and that only causes to undermine the childs development that much more.I think if school districts are going to spend money allocated for special ed students on other issues then they have to be willing to take the grunt of law suits and rebellion.Our own Government is exploiting the fact that we need them more then we want to .If were all maximizing our potential and policing ourselves of a moral and ethics code worthy of a equal society which obviously we don't live under.Then our Government will continue to bank on literally and figuratively that we live lives of submissiveness and underachievement.Frankly I'm more ashamed of being an American then I will ever be of my disability.Frankly its what keeps me humbled and sane and pushes me not to take my successes for granted even in the presence of a Government and society that is soul impaired and ethically challenged.
-
Permalink Reply by Christopher Peter Korman on
-
Do you find think with budget cuts and mainstreaming makes it increasingly more difficult for a child to gained acceptance from peers and staff.i?Feeling isolated for having a disability is one thing but to have to deal with peer pressure amongst those who aren't just heightens that state of isolation and loneliness.How are school districts going to properly address that when they cannot even hold themselves accountable for honoring IEPS and money allocated to them? I think 100% acceptance of the childs disabiilty and social development is the most effective counter action to mainstreaming.It certainly will make the successful transition from child to self assured adult come to fruition naturally.What does this board think about the acceptance issue and how to eradicate the bullying that usually stems being outed for needing special services? in a period of 5 days school schedule.Frankly if the emotional issues if there not addressed at home is just going to permeate their lives in every other facet of their development and that is just going to delay the maturation that much more.
-
Permalink Reply by Becky D. Smith on
-
Acceptance begins when children are very young. We must teach our young students in kindergarten and preschool that it is OK to be different. It is OK to "discuss the differences and explain the differences" of little ones who walk and talk differently, those going into a special education class, those who wear glasses. Our hope in doing our Ability Awareness School-Wide on-going/every day program is that we can reach the parents of little ones who teach them that it's NOT OK to be different. Prejudice begins early and it most often begins with parents who don't want their child associating with a child who has a disability. With our school-wide acceptance program, all students are recognized for being unique. Inclusion versus mainstreaming makes a world of difference. We all want to be included. Our students all have desks in an inclusion class as well as books and materials just like the other students, regardless of their abilities. Explanation of differences, such as a child with down syndrome, can and should be very simple. Hiding it and never discussing it goes back to the 60's when we were taught to look away and not stare and heaven forbid ask why.
-
Permalink Reply by Christopher Peter Korman on
-
That is a wonderful program that more educational institutions should implement into their daily program.When was the inception of program and how many schools already have it incorporated into daily schedule? was wondering where do you live I live in San Diego CA.Have you ever thought of having this idea copyrighted.I think since so many school districts has lost funding it could seriously benefit from inspirational self esteem building program like The ability Awareness.I was diagnosed with a learning disability at the age of 4.I'm fortunate to have had parents unconditionally celebrate my disability to the point that U could celebrate my LD as a blessing even in the face of adversity.
Check Out Our Products!
Latest Activity
© 2013 Created by School Specialty Special Needs.
x$('.xg_widget_profiles_blog_list .xg_span-16 .xg_module:nth-child(4) li').each(function(index) { if (index > 9) x$(this).remove() });