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