Words matter. We often learn this simple but important concept before we enter preschool or kindergarten. For some reason, many people with large platforms often seem to forget this principle. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a prime example of individuals who have forgotten the power and potential harm that words […]
Special Education
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Top scholar says evidence for special education inclusion is ‘fundamentally flawed’
This article first appeared in The Hechinger Report, a national nonprofit newsroom that reports on one topic: education. Contact staff writer Jill Barshay at 212-678-3595 or barshay@hechingerreport.org. A prominent professor of special education is about to ignite a fierce debate over a tenet of his field, that students with disabilities should be educated as much as possible alongside […]
Posted inSpecial Education
Shifting from Co-Teaching to Co-Serving: Transforming Special Education in Inclusive Classrooms
In today’s inclusive classrooms, where students with and without disabilities learn alongside one another, the partnership between special and general education teachers is more important than ever. Yet, too often, this collaboration stops at planning: brief meetings to align lesson plans, modify or accommodate learning tasks, and set goals. While useful, this approach isn’t enough […]
Posted inSpecial Education
Legal Battle Over 504 Protections Continues as States Attempt to Clarify Intent
Disability advocates are raising alarms as a lawsuit brought by Texas and 16 other states challenges Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This key federal law protects people with disabilities from discrimination in education, health care, housing, and other areas. The legal action, Texas v. Becerra, has sparked widespread concern over its potential implications, including […]
Posted inSpecial Education
Embracing the Rhythm: Understanding and Supporting Stimming in Autism
Recently, when discussing a parent’s concerns about his son’s stimming. Stimming, which is short for self-stimulatory behavior, refers to repetitive body movements or sounds, such as hand-flapping or other repetitive hand movements, rocking, tapping, spinning, or vocalizations, such as humming or repetitive sounds or phrases. What is stimming? Stimming is a common action exhibited in […]
Posted inChild Development
Behavior is Communication
This may sound silly, but I can’t stop thinking about my T-shirt. Earlier this school year, I was talking to the speech therapist who works with my students when I noticed her fantastic shirt. It said, “Behavior is Communication.” Immediately, I asked her to send me the link to the shirt, and by the end […]
Posted inSpecial Education
How do I serve the deaf students in my class?
I have deaf students in my class, and people always say, “It must be really quiet where you work!’ Hahahaha…no. I’m a teacher of the deaf and an educational sign language interpreter. I am certified in both and have college degrees in both fields. Most of my thirty-year career has been at the middle and […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Replay: Trends in Special Education: Rethinking Supports in a Post-COVID World
Are you seeking innovative ways to support students receiving special education services in school and at the district levels? Join our engaging webinar and delve into the world of evidence-based solutions to close the achievement gaps for our students serviced with IEPs and 504s. Explore how these collaborative supports can help propel your students forward. […]