Working With Students With Special Needs: Individualized Education

Programs (IEPs)

Kristi P. KirklandGeorgia Southern University

ITEC 7530

The National Center for Learning Disabilities had identified general steps in the special education process. They include:

Child is identified as possibly needing special education and related services.

Child is evaluated. Eligibility is decided. Child is found eligible for services. IEP meeting is scheduled. IEP meeting is held and the IEP is written. Services are provided. Progress is measured and reported to parents. IEP is reviewed. Child is reevaluated.

General Steps in the Special Education Process

http://www.ncld.org/students-disabilities/iep-504-plan/what-is-iep

For students identified with needing special education and related services,

assistive technologies can “open doors and break down barriers … by increasing,

maintaining, or improving the capabilities of individuals with disabilities” (LD Online,

2014).

Overview

The passage of the updated Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004) allows for parents to work with educators to develop a plan called an Individualized Education Program (IEP) designed to meet the child’s unique needs. (Concord SEPAC, 2014)

What is an Individualized Education Program (IEP)?

The student's disability (ies), A statement vision statement of the student's long term goal

(1 - 5 years in future). Describe how the student's disability (ies) effects their

progress in the classroom. Short term goals, based upon the child's own learning

strengths and weaknesses, ◦ How the child's progress towards these goals will be

measure and how will the goals be evaluated Accommodations and modifications For students with behavior or emotional issues that interfere

with their learning, the IEP should contain a program designed to teach the student behavior and social skills. 

Summer services Transports needs Last, type of placement.

What does an IEP contain?

http://www.concordspedpac.org/WhatIEP.htm

Kids struggling in school may qualify for support services, allowing them to be taught in a special way, for reasons such as: learning disabilities attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) emotional disorders cognitive challenges autism hearing impairment visual impairment speech or language impairment developmental delay

Who Might Need an IEP?

Source: http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/learning/iep.html

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (I.D.E.A.) defines an assistive technology as “any item, piece of equipment or product system… that is used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.”

Assistive Technology Services are defined as “any service that directly assists an individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition or use of an assistive technology device.”

What is Assistive Technology?

http://assistivetechnologyforeducation.com/examples-of-assistive-technology/

Computer Laptop Ipad AAC Devices Adjustable Furniture Adaptive Keyboards Walking Assistance

◦ Grab Bars◦ Ramps

Environmental controls

Communication boards

Software◦ Text to Speech◦ Voice Recognition◦ Magnification◦ Screen reading

Assistive Technology Device Examples

http://assistivetechnologyforeducation.com/examples-of-assistive-technology/

Students with hearing impairments have special difficulty in situations where –

There is distance between the sound source and the student

There is competing noise in the environment There is poor room acoustics/reverberations

Hearing Assistive Technology devices (HATS) can help students overcome these listening difficulties.

Assistive Technologies Designed for the Hearing Impaired

http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/treatment/assist_tech.htm

Personal Frequency Modulation Systems - Personal FM system consists of a transmitter microphone used by the speaker (such as the teacher in the classroom, or the speaker at a lecture) and a receiver used by the listener. The receiver transmits the sound to the listeners ears or, if they wear a hearing aid, directly to the hearing aid.

Infrared Systems – Used in the home with TV sets, sound from the TV is transmitted using infrared light waves. This sound is transmitted to your receiver, which you can adjust to your desired volume.

One-to-One Communicators – A person with whom you want to speak is given a microphone which amplifies the sound and is delivered directly to the hearing aid.

Examples of HATS

http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Other-Hearing-Assistive-Technology-Systems-Solutions/

Pictures, photographs, objects Communication boards Phonic ear Headphones (to keep the listener focused,

adjust sound, etc.) TDD/TTY for phone service Closed-captioning television Real-time captioning CD-based (text)books, electronic books Audio-voice amplification device for teachers

Other Assistive Technologies for Hearing Impaired

http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlgy/te7assist.htm

Low-Tech SolutionsFlow-chartingWebbingTask AnalysisOutlining

High-Tech SolutionsGraphic SoftwareComputers and PDAsLCD Projection Systems

Assistive Technologies for Mild Learning Disabilities Examples

http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Assistive_Technology/?page=2

Assistive devices that do not require technology are called “no-tech” devices. Examples of no-tech devices can include:

Written schedule Post-it notes Social Stories Copies of structured outlines in which

students fill in information

Non-Tech Assistive Devices

http://www.ericdigests.org/2003-1/assistive.htmhttp://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlgy/te7assist.htm

Assistive technologies can be used for students with ADHD to perform tasks that have been difficult to initiate, complete, or even remember to get do.

Examples include: PDA's - calendars, timers, reminder messages Invisible Clock - Reminder Timers Noise Cancelling Ear Phones/Ear Plugs Talking Computer Keyboards Alarm Talking Watches Digital Talking Calculators Children's talking calculators

Assistive Technologies for Students with ADHD

http://www.adhd-brain.com/assistive-technology-for-adhd.html

General Comprehensive Resource Lists – Assistive Technology Consideration Resource Guide - http://

archives.doe.k12.ga.us/DMGetDocument.aspx/Assistive_Technology_Resource_Guide.pdf?p=6CC6799F8C1371F6D3B6B31946FD0F5CB73AF088936932AD79C7D16213A3A250&Type=D

IEPs and Beyond - https://www.teachervision.com/special-education/resource/17706.html Special Needs: Teacher Resources - https://

www.teachervision.com/special-education/teacher-resources/6640.html

Journals Journal of Research in Special Education Needs -

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1471-3802 Journal of Special Education Technology - http://jset.unlv.edu The Journal: Transforming Education through Technology - http://thejournal.com/Home.aspx

Organizations/Associations Center for Applied Special Technology - http://www.cast.org The Family Center on Technology and Disability - http://www.fctd.info/ The National Assistive Technology Research Institute - http://natri.uky.edu National Association of Special Education Teachers - http://www.naset.org/ National Center for Learning Disabilities - http://ncld.org/ SERGE - Special Education Resources for General Educators - http://serge.ccsso.org/

Websites Georgia Project for Assistive Technology - http://www.gpat.org/Georgia-Project-for-Assistive-

Technology/Pages/default.aspx

Resources

ADHD Brain. (2012). Assistive Technology for ADHD. Retrieved from http://www.adhd-brain.com/assistive-technology-for-adhd.html

American Speech Language Hearing Association. (2014). Hearing Assistive Technology. Retrieved from http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/treatment/assist_tech.htm

Assistive Technology for Education, LLC. (n.d.) Examples of Assistive Technology. Retrieved from http://assistivetechnologyforeducation.com/examples-of-assistive-technology/

Behrmann, M. & Jerome, M.K. (2008). Assistive Technology for Students with Mild Learning Disabilities. Retrieved from http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Assistive_Technology/

Concord SEPAC (2014). What is an IEP? Retrieved from http://www.concordspedpac.org/WhatIEP.htm

Kid’s Health. (2014). Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/learning/iep.html

Georgia Department of Education. (n.d.). Georgia Project for Assistive Technology. Retrieved from http://www.gpat.org/Georgia-Project-for-Assistive-Technology/Pages/default.aspx

LD Online. (2010). Technology. Retrieved from http://www.ldonline.org/indepth/technology

National Center for Learning Disabilities. (2014) What is an IEP? Retrieved from http://www.ncld.org/students-disabilities/iep-504-plan/what-is-iep

North Central Regional Educational Laboratory. (n.d.). Assistive Technology to Meet K–12 Student Needs. Retrieved from http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlgy/te7assist.htm

References