| We all remember how it felt to be a child and how, as | | | | Program (IEP) which will contain all the special |
| a child, we sometimes felt like school is too difficult to | | | | education aids, learning techniques and special |
| handle. Most of us managed to finish it and, as | | | | education products best suited for that child. From |
| grown-ups we don't understand what made it seem | | | | case to case, the child may be taken to a special |
| so complicated then. But for some children, school is | | | | education centre where he can receive the special |
| indeed too tricky and learning practically impossible. | | | | education aids he needs. |
| The real problem is the fact that there are more than | | | | For a child suffering from a learning disorder, dyslexia |
| 6 million children and young persons estimated to be | | | | or ADD, the traditional school system can prove itself |
| suffering from disabilities and each and every one of | | | | to be quite powerless and ineffective. This is why |
| them needs to go through a special education process. | | | | children with special needs must be provided with |
| This term, "special education" refers to unconventional | | | | special education aids and special teachers. Only |
| education services and special education aids designed | | | | trained professionals are able to design teaching |
| to cater for the needs of children suffering from | | | | methods and educational techniques for students of all |
| physical and mental challenges. This includes particular | | | | ages, with mild to profound disabilities and that may |
| learning techniques, particular education products and | | | | vary depending upon the child's nature, age, and the |
| particular lesson plans. | | | | extremeness and type of disability. It is very important |
| What can be more disturbing for a parent than | | | | that the special education aids include learning |
| knowing that his or her child doesn't have the same | | | | techniques and lesson plans in order to prepare |
| chances for a normal life as everyone else? (And all | | | | students to function independently and to master skills, |
| because they suffer from a disability of some sort.) | | | | to build and support social competence, and to help |
| Sometimes, these children and their parents are dealing | | | | children and their families lead a problem free life. |
| with physical and mental drawbacks such as physical | | | | It is important that the special lesson plans are made |
| handicaps, sensory (visual and hearing) impairments, | | | | for each child separately in order to suit individuals. The |
| intellectual capacity (mental retardation and autism), | | | | plans are to be made in consultation with physical |
| learning disabilities (reading and writing skills), speech | | | | therapists, counselors, doctors, occupational therapists, |
| impairment or even behavior disorders. All of these | | | | psychiatrists, and social workers, all professionals that |
| children have few chances to be integrated in society | | | | can have the wider perspective on the child's situation. |
| without special attention and a lot of effort from | | | | Also very important are the education products |
| parents who often feel powerless. | | | | chosen to be used in the special education process. |
| The special education process has to begin with a | | | | There are a lot of special education products that can |
| request for evaluation from a parent or a teacher of | | | | really simplify the teacher's work: materials designed to |
| the child. This is the first step and perhaps the most | | | | improve reading and writing, or certain subjects, such |
| important, because it means that there could be a | | | | as math, materials designed to improve life skills. Books, |
| problem with the child and knowing about it makes it | | | | videos, special needs software and teacher resources |
| easier to deal with. The next step is finding out the | | | | are other special education products. |
| results of the test and either way, it can only help the | | | | It must be remembered the fact that a child suffering |
| child, because if he has a problem, then a team of | | | | from a learning disability is not lost for society and he |
| professionals will decide which special education aids | | | | can lead a normal happy life just like all the individuals |
| are best suited to be used. If the child doesn't have a | | | | of his age. With the proper care and attention from his |
| problem, the evaluation can still provide important | | | | family, with the proper instructors and doctors that use |
| information about the child and the ways he learns | | | | the best special education products, almost any child |
| best. If the result of the evaluation is that the child | | | | suffering from a learning disability can grow up to have |
| suffers from a learning disability, then the team of | | | | a successful life. |
| experts will make up an Individualized Education | | | | |