Special Education

Special education is an instruction, which is modified for students who require special attention to deal with learning differences, certain disability or any mental health issues. More often than not, modifications are made in curriculum, equipment or additional aides and the arrangements of specialized amenities that enable students to take part in the educational functions to the maximum possible extent. Students often require help for accessing the subject matter, so that they can gain access to the school or in order to meet their specific emotional needs.

Special education came into being when the eugenics movement became strong in the mid 1960s. According to this theory, taking care of educated people with special needs was considered to be irresponsible and an attempt to weaken society. Some of the more scientific approaches like behaviorism to study the disability have helped to get a new understanding towards special education along with the vision that makes learning an easy process for every children. Earlier, education was offered to schoolchildren of about six or seven years of age.

Every child gets special support according to the specific need, which can be both short as well as long term. The provision of providing special education varies from one country to another and from one state to another. The capability of a child to access a specific setting may depend upon their particular needs, family preference, location and government policy.

Special education can be imparted in one of the ways or by blending the following methods:

• Special classes within the mainstream schools that are specifically meant for children with special needs can be termed as support classes, units or a range of terms related to jurisdiction. These setting may include resource rooms, special classes, sensory room, various equipment and integrated classes.
• There are many special schools, which are specially designed, staffed and resourced to meet different requirements of children along with support needs.
• Outreach services like Speech and language therapy, Autism Outreach, Occupational therapy and many more can be offered to students on a visit basis in the required setting, independent school and home-teaching.
• The approach could be adopted at residential centers where certain complex requirements can be met with specific provisions regarding medical care and therapy.