Many teachers not trained to handle students with disabilities
February 10th, 2009From the Palm Beach [Florida] Post:
Florida kindergarten teacher Wendy Portillo sparked a controversy last year when she allowed her students to vote to remove a child with Asperger’s syndrome from her classroom.
But parents, educators and disability advocates say the case highlights an often overlooked problem with the inclusion of children with disabilities in general education classrooms: Many teachers receive little to no training on how to manage such students.
“The trend toward inclusion really has caused some difficulties for teachers because you have to treat (special needs students) differently,” said Karen Lyman, a teacher-coach in St. Lucie County schools. “You have to learn how to teach that child without affecting the rest of the children.”
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February 11th, 2009 at 9:41 am
I agree the teachers have very little clues, but often, in my case, they had not even reviewed the student’s file. On too many occasions to count, a teacher did not know they had a HFA child in their class until I mentioned in on Parent-Teacher night 3 months into the school year. They often look startled and confused.
We had a similar situation where children were allowed to put Post-It notes on a board as a class project, describing the students. The teacher actually felt proud of this and showed it to me. Three girls who relentlessly teased my son were allowed to put up anything they pleased. My son didn’t even know/understand what was going on.
In the end, I complained, the girls were suspended and the teacher had to attend a sensitivity inservice regarding autistic children.
This is what needs to happen BEFORE they even graduate. And, then, teachers, read the children’s file. I know you have 30 of them, but at least scan the front page. Find out if they have an IEP/504 plan. This would go a long way.