INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL EDUCATION

INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL EDUCATION

What is Education?

Education has a very wide concept. It is a combination of many concepts 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.

Special Needs Education: This is education which provides appropriate modification in curriculum  delivery methods, educational resources, medium of communication or the learning environment in order to cater for individual differences in learning.

These interventions are designed to help learners with special needs achieve a higher level of personal self-sufficiency and success in school and their community.

Common special needs include learning disabilities, communication disorders, emotional and behavioral disorders, physical disabilities, and developmental disabilities.

Aims and objectives of Special education

1. To develop all social, vocational, communication skills for person with disability

2. To develop basic living skills for activities of daily living (ADL) such as bathing, eating, grooming, toileting etc.

3. To develop fine motor and gross motor skills

4. To become vocationally independent

5. To enhance thinking co-ordination and psycho-motor activities in term of occupation

Disability: Is the consequence of an impairment that may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental, or some combination of these. A disability may be present from birth, or occur during a person’s lifetime.

Handicap: Is a disadvantage or a restriction of activity which may result from disability.

Communication disorders: is any disorder that affects somebody’s ability to communicate.

The delays and disorders can range from simple sound substitution to the inability to understand or use one’s native language.

Exceptionality: It refers to any individual whose physical, mental or behavioral performance deviates from the normal either positively or negatively.

Inclusion: This is a philosophy which focuses on the process of adjusting the home, the school, and the society so that all the individuals, regardless of their differences, can have the opportunity to interact, play, learn, work and experience the feeling of belonging and experiment to develop in accordance with their potentials and difficulties.

Special needs: is a term used in to describe individuals who require assistance for disabilities that may be medical, mental, or psychological. It’s important for teachers to teaching and learning materials to facilitate learning. It’s important for teachers to modify teaching methods and strategies to the learners’ needs. It’s important for teachers to modify the environment to suit learners’ needs.

Inclusive Education: This is an approach in which learners with disabilities and special needs, regardless of age and disability, are provided with appropriate education within regular schools.

For inclusive education to succeed the following should be considered;

Qualified trained teachers

Modification of the environment

Provision of relevant teaching and learning materials

Paraprofessionals e.g. nurses, psychiatrists teachers counselors etc

Goals of Special Education