Introduction to Special Education

What is Education?

Education has a very wide concept. It is a combination of many concept such as teaching, learning, training etc. So, the education has various concept.

In the wider sense, education is the process of total development of personality of an individual

Latin Roots of Education

Education is derived from two Latin words “Educare” or “Educere” and “Educatum”. Educare or Educere means to lead out, to draw out, to raise or to educate where as in Educatum “E”means from inside and “catum” means to draw out or act of teaching or training.

Definition of Education

Some of the definition of education according to the great educators

According to Mahatma Ghandhi:

“By education I mean the all-round drawing of the best in child and man body, mind and soul”

According to Swami Vivekanand:

“Education is the manifestation of perfection already in man. Like fire in a piece of flint, knowledge exist in the mind”.

According to Rabindranath Tagore:

“The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence”

According to Plato:

“Education develops in the body and the soul of the pupil all the beauty and all the perfection he is capable of”

According to Rousseau:

“Education is the child’s development from within”

According to Aristorle:

“Education is the creation of sound mind in a sound body. It develops man’s faculty specially his mind so that he may be able to enjoy the contemplation of supreme truth, goodness and beauty”

What is Special Education?

Special education is the branch of education for individuals who are different from normal human beings. It is specially designed for students who are disabled, gifted child or with special learning needs.

Here are some Definitions of special education

According to Rowayane Smith,1973:

Special education is instruction that is individually tailored to meet the unique learning needs of a child with disabilities.

According to Hallahan and Kauffman,1978:

Special education means specially designed instruction which meets the unusual need of an exceptional student special materials, teaching techniques, equipment and facilities may be required.

According to Prof. Jangira,1986:

Special education is the process of making educational provision to meet special needs of children, which cannot be satisfied by the present arrangements available in ordinary schools.

According to Heward,1996:

Special education is individually planned, systematically implemented and carefully evaluated instruction to help exceptional children achieve the greatest possible personal self-sufficiency and success in present and future environments.

Aims and objectives of Special education

• To develop all social, vocational, communication skills for person with disability
• To develop basic living skills for activities of daily living (ADL) such as bathing, eating, grooming, toileting etc.
• To develop fine motor and gross motor skills
• To become vocationally independent
• To enhance thinking co-ordination and psycho-motor activities in term of occupation

Definition of “Impairment/Disability and Handicapped”

The WHO (World Health Organization) has defined the term “Impairment/Disability and Handicapped” in 1990 via publication of the international classification of “Impairment/Disability and Handicapped” (ICIDH)

Handicap: A disadvantage of a human being in terms of impairment or disability that prevents or ultimately stops an individual from the role that is normal for daily living activities (depending on gender, age and social factors)

Impairment: Any loss or abnormality of psychological or anatomical structure generally taken to be at organ level.

Disability: Any lack of ability (Due to impairment/disability) to perform an activity similarly in the manner or within the range considered normal for human being.

Definition and Types of CWSN (Child with Special Needs)

* Child with special needs is different from the normal child in some aspects. A special child is one who may have physical/mental problem or special talents in thinking, seeing, hearing, speaking, socializing or with movements

* A special child is a combination of special abilities/disabilities

*  Children with special needs are always referred as Children with special needs (CWSN)/ Exceptional children

Classification of children with special needs:

• Children with Intellectual disability (Mental Retardation)
• Children with Hearing Impairment
• Children with Multiple Disability
• Children with Visual Impairment
• Children with Autism
• Children with Learning Disability
• Children with Cerebral Palsy
• Children with Orthopedic Handicapped
•  Children with speech Handicapped

ROLE OF SPECIAL TEACHER’S:

Reference taken from the educator “Hallahan and Kauffman (Year-1991)” which highlights the role of all educators including SPECIAL EDUCATORS in educating the children with special needs.

Here are the main and significant role of the special educator/Teacher:

• Accommodating about the individual student’s needs
• Assessing academic abilities and disabilities (strength and weakness of the child)
• Referring for evaluation
• Developing individualized education programme (IEP)
• Communicating with parents and guardians
• Collaborating with other professionals
• Tackling serious problems
• Using the advance technology
• Knowledge of special education Law
• Providing remedial teaching
• Participating in multidisciplinary team (A teacher and professionals from different disciplines)
• Expertise (Patience & Hope. etc.) to teach children with special needs (CWSN)