The Australian Association of Special Education 2005 National Conference: Des English Memorial Lecture Special Education, Evidence-Based Practices and Policies: Re-think? Re-butt? Re-make? Re-value? Respond

2006 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-20
Author(s):  
Christina E. van Kraayenoord

It is an honour to be invited to present the Des English Memorial Lecture at the 30th Annual National Conference of the Australian Association of Special Education (AASE) in 2005. Des English was the first President of this Association. Much of what he stood for was embedded in a respect for the abilities of students with special needs and his desire to ensure that these students had the best opportunities to learn. He was deeply committed to the belief that a professional organization such as the Australian Association of Special Education was needed to develop teachers and administrators who were knowledgeable and skilled, and he worked tirelessly to establish this Association, continuing to work with energy towards the goal of enhancing the education of students with special needs through the professional development of their teachers until his death in 1977.

1998 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-37
Author(s):  
Susan Wright ◽  
Jeff Sigafoos

The present study surveyed the views of parents about the education of students with special needs in regular classrooms. The survey involved 81 parents of students without disabilities and 29 parents of students with special needs. The children attended an Australian primary school. The school provided special education to 35 students with special needs and some of their education was provided in regular classrooms. Both groups of parents provided a range of supportive comments, but also expressed concerns about the implementation of special education in regular classrooms. Specific concerns included the extra time and added stress of educating children with special needs in the regular classroom, the potential disruption and disadvantage to other students, and the lack of support and resources, which may decrease the amount of learning. These views are consistent with those expressed by teachers and students without special needs as reported in the companion paper (Wright & Sigafoos, 1997) to the present study.


2005 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-20
Author(s):  
Alison Jacob

Thank you for inviting me to deliver the Des English Memorial Lecture for the second time – it's becoming a bit of a habit!Having taken the opportunity to read several of the Des English lectures that have been published over the years, it appears that the tradition of this lecture is often to provide some commentary on changes that have occurred during the career of the person delivering the address, in relation to the field of special education. There is more than a little reminiscing and nostalgia in Des English lectures and a great many references to ‘journeys’ by various Des English presenters suggesting a sense of progress or at least progression over time.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfonso Rodríguez-Oramas ◽  
Pilar Alvarez ◽  
Mimar Ramis-Salas ◽  
Laura Ruiz-Eugenio

In the international context of a progress toward more inclusive educational systems and practices, the role of Special Education teachers is being transformed. From an inclusive perspective, these professionals increasingly support students and their teachers in the mainstream classroom, avoiding segregation. However, Special Education teachers often struggle to reach and support all students with special needs and their teachers to provide quality inclusive education. For this reason, more research is still needed on in-service training strategies for the inclusion of students with special needs that effectively translate into evidence-based school practices that improve the education of all students. This article analyses the impact of two evidence-based dialogic training programs of Special Education teachers working in mainstream schools carried out in Mexico during the 2018–2019 school year. Through in-depth interviews with participants, it was identified how, after the training, teachers increasingly grounded their actions on scientific evidence and promoted interactive learning environments that improved the educational inclusion of their students with special needs. This training also became the venue to make evidence-based educational actions available to other students without special needs, improving the quality of education provided to all students.


Author(s):  
April Camping ◽  
Steve Graham

Writing is especially challenging for students with disabilities, as 19 out of every 20 of these students experience difficulty learning to write. In order to maximize writing growth, effective instructional practices need to be applied in the general education classroom where many students with special needs are educated. This should minimize special education referrals and maximize the progress of these students as writers. Evidence-based writing practices for the general education classroom include ensuring that students write frequently for varying purposes; creating a pleasant and motivating writing environment; supporting students as they compose; teaching critical skills, processes, and knowledge; and using 21st-century writing tools. It is also important to be sure that practices specifically effective for enhancing the writing growth of students with special needs are applied in both general and special education settings (where some students with disabilities may receive part or all of their writing instruction). This includes methods for preventing writing disabilities, tailoring instruction to meet individual student needs, addressing roadblocks that can impede writing growth, and using specialized writing technology that allows these students to circumvent one or more of their writing challenges.


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