Synthesis Post- What Special Education is to me

Growing up my future profession ranged from me becoming a doctor, dentist, interior designer, or a veterinarian, but little did I know that certain life experiences would lead me to the major of Special Education. Two influential factors that were embedded into my life are my cousin, Sarah, who has special needs and my experience in my high school’s Special Education classroom. My now 11-year-old cousin, Sarah, is nonverbal and can only communicate through some signs and emotions. Words are scarce in her vocabulary, but seeing her grow up these past 11 years, I feel like she is just like any other 11-year-old. She always wears a great big smile on her face and plays with her toys like they are the most interesting things. I first knew I was attracted to the profession of being a Special Education teacher when I was about 16 years old. As a junior in high school I quickly latched onto the want to pursue this profession. Sarah was just so fascinating to me. I want to learn more about why she is the way she is and why she cannot develop the same way other children her age do. With these questions lingering in my head I decided to volunteer my time senior year of high school to help out in my school’s Special Education classroom. I learned many things and gained better insight into the daily struggles that each student goes through on a daily basis. As able-bodied humans, we take walking, talking, and simply eating for granted. The complexity of certain diseases and mental retardations are so severe that they do cause these imperfections. Each day I would always look forward to coming in and helping out, and I think that is when I knew that I was doing what I loved.

With this newfound love also came frustration. Most people do not give special needs students enough credit for all they do. I believe that Special Education students are the hardest working students in their school for the simple reason that they have more to overcome in a lesson than any other student and they still manage to complete their work. One misconception that is thought of in a Special Education classroom is that the students do not work on actual subjects and that they just come to school to have a place to hang out and rehab their bodies. But what these people don’t know is that these students work harder than any other student in their school. While the topics they are covering may be minor and not very difficult for regular education students, learning this basic material is going to heighten their abilities greatly. Special Education students work through pain, physical ailments, and emotional upheavals every day and they do not complain. They simply work through these struggles and complete each assignment. Able-bodied people take their everyday routines for granted like eating or simply saying “I love you”. Life is not as simple for everyone as some may think and a sense of compassion needs to be shown.

My passion for Special Education can probably be seen quite clearly through these words above. I feel that the major and profession of Special Education is something that matters because it makes me think of someone or something other than yourself and it makes me comforted when I can speak for a child who cannot speak for themselves. I take great pride in being a big supporter for those who society sees as different and weaker than students in regular education. I love being that advocate that says, “These students can do anything any other student can do. Maybe it won’t be done as quickly or as efficiently, but it will get done because they have a driving force inside of them that will never give up.”

Remixing SPED

While looking for a remix piece in my field of Special Education I came across a brochure that outlines a Special Education program and all that it offers a special needs student and what it does to make them feel just like any other student or person in our society. Looking through this brochure I noticed that there are the connecting ideas of showing families of those with special needs how they can accommodate to their loved one's needs and how they can assist them. In this brochure, ideas are organized very well in terms of presenting the background of the program first, then showing how it will improve each student's life, and finally, how family hand friends can and will be involved in the program. The points and details this brochure present are those of aspects to the program, for example, providing students with the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in the workforce. Along with this idea is also what types of cases this program caters to such as deaf/hard of hearing and autistic cases. Finally, the idea of parent involvement is highlighted as well. The delivery of these ideas are very welcoming and geared toward comforting the family and showing outsiders that these special needs students have the capability to be fully capable citizens just like anyone else. In conclusion, the voice of this piece of writing is very honest and open. A voice that tells the truth about these students, but also highlights their strengths and all that can be accomplished. It's a voice of knowledge because it also carries along with it, specific vocabulary needed in this field of Special Education.

http://www.sccoe.org/depts/specialed/docs/brochure_Special_Education.pdf

Accommodating those in Wheelchairs

Something that I feel is not covered very much in Special Education classes and learning is how to accommodate those in wheelchairs. When I was researching how to better assist these students I came across an article that discussed how to adjust the room to better fit their needs. The first way that was mentioned was to make sure that the doorway is 100% clear and that objects around the frame of the door are tucked away to ensure that the student can move freely in and out of the classroom without assistance. This feeling of independence will help the student grow in the classroom and will make them want to come to school and learn. Another big component to school is having a locker or cubby space. One way to ensure that those students in wheelchairs will have a full experience is to make it so that they can readily access their locker/cubby as well. For example, in my high school the students in the Special Education room would all have lockers and instead of their being a combination to lock it, they each had their own key to their own locker that would hang on the door. The keys were hung low enough so that those in wheelchairs could reach them and the key hole in their lockers were positioned low enough as well. This will also heighten the students' independence at school and make them feel like any other student. Finally, having assigned desks or places in the room for each student is a great help, not just for organization, but for that individual attention that each student needs. Those in wheelchairs should be placed at tables convenient to the height of their chair so that they feel that they have a place to feel comfortable in the classroom.

"Tips For Teachers: Simple Tips For Helping A Student In A Wheelchair." Essortment. N.p., 2011. Web. 08 Nov. 2012. <http://www.essortment.com/tips-teachers-simple-tips-helping-student-wheelchair-52338.html>.

The Importance of Special Education

While I was searching for a news article that would stress the importance of Special Education I came across an article about a Special Education teacher receiving the award for "Teacher of the Year". While I was reading this article the passion that Charlotte Land had for her students and her job just radiated the importance of classrooms such as this. She talks on the personal level of being a vital part of her students' lives and the importance of having a good relationship with their family. She states, "We must have sensitivity towards these families as they cope with the ongoing needs of a disabled child at home. We must respect the challenging journey knowing with humility that we are only a small part of that journey" (Bridges 22). This deep respect for her students and the way that each one of her Special Education colleagues will be cheering on each student to succeed is the reason Special Education is so important. As I have said in my past blog posts, the students in these classrooms just wanted to be treated normally and seen as an equal by their peers. Their families, along with their teachers need to be their biggest cheerleaders because they are the ones that spend the most time with them. Special Education is important because it gives a voice and a defense for those who cannot stand up and speak for themselves. Helping others when they cannot help themselves is the most selfless act in this world and that is why this profession matters. 

Bridges, Kathy. "Land Named Haymon-Morris' Top Teacher." Land Named Haymon-Morris' Top Teacher. N.p., 29 Oct. 2012. Web. 02 Nov. 2012. <http://www.barrowcountynews.com/section/11/article/18231/>.

Fundraising for Special Needs Children

As I browsed the web for different fundraisers that have gone on/are currently happening I can across an event named "Walk Now for Autism Speaks". This fundraiser is clearly a walk to raise money for Autism research and awareness. Multiple walks have happened all across the country in almost all 50 states. This just goes to show that Special Needs reside all around the country and that this is something that people care enough about to participate in. Now the way the money is raised in the form of having a walk is in the form of donations whether that is a flat rate or in the form of someone paying $1 for every quarter mile someone walks. It is incredible how much money can be raised in the type of situation. For example, their upcoming walk in Washington DC happening on November 3rd has already raised $448,246! That is just tremendous to me. I think it is great that awareness is being spread worldwide and that more research is being done to create better, more efficient medicine for those with the disorder to live a more normal life. If anyone is interested in finding a walk near them or donating please visit "Walk Now for Autism Speaks" website:

http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/site/c.igIRL6PIJrH/b.7683511/k.2EFB/Walk_Now_for_Autism_Speaks_Home.htm

What is Special Education and How did it come about

For my free post this week I thought that I would go over what Special Education actually means and how these classrooms came about. For many, there is a grey area that causes some confusion over what types of cases come through the Special Education classrooms. By definition, Special Education means education of physically or mentally handicapped children whose needs cannot be met in an ordinary classroom. Special Education classrooms got started with a man named Louis Braille. He first opened up a school for the blind in Paris to give those that could not see a better opportunity to grow and learn mentally. As more cases began to surface classrooms for the deaf and mentally handicapped children were created. This is how the evolution of sign language came about. As for the education of those with mentally disabilities, those classrooms were started by Jean-Marc-Gaspard Itard. The ideas of Mr. Itard then rubbed off on Edouard Seguin and Maria Montessori. To me, the evolution of those specific classrooms is just amazing. Seeing how technology and techniques have advanced gives me hope for a brighter future for these students.

"Special EducationAbout Our Definitions: All Forms of a Word (noun, Verb, Etc.) Are Now Displayed on One Page." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2012. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/special%20education>.

Job-Shadow

Quick Facts: Special Education Teachers
2010 Median Pay	$53,220 per year
Entry-Level Education	Bachelor’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	Internship/residency
Number of Jobs, 2010	459,600
Job Outlook, 2010-20	17% (About as fast as average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	77,400

While I was researching job expectancies for Special and came across this table that perfectly described how likely it is for me to have a job out of college and about how much I could make starting out. This table shows me that between the years of 2010-2020 the need for jobs should increase about 17% which is said to be the average increase for most jobs which is good in a field like Special Education. This percentage also shows that the need for teachers will increase because there are more students enrolling in school, both in regular and special education. Lastly, this chart shows me that having an internship year or some type of experience in a classroom will increase your likelihood of getting a job right after school is over. This is not a concern for me because the way Michigan State's Education program is set up, we all participate in a 5th year or Internship year. This will increase my knowledge and practice in the classroom and according to this chart, will help me become more marketable in the job market after I graduate.