A Case Study of Federal Leadership Perspectives on Special Education

2020 ◽  
pp. 002246692090990
Author(s):  
Jeannie Kleinhammer-Tramill ◽  
Zorka Karanxha ◽  
A. Joy Broughton

This article is part of an illustrative study of federal leadership in special education based on interviews with persons who served as Assistant Secretaries in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services and Directors of the Office of Special Education Programs. The perspectives cover the time period since the inception of the HEW—Bureau of Education for the Handicapped in 1967 until 2012. A phenomenological approach to interpreting the data revealed that these leaders faced similar barriers in their efforts to implement their vision, that their family background experiences influenced the policies they pursued, that their accomplishments frame major evolutions of the field, and, that their work represents a lifelong commitment to improving education and services for students with disabilities and special needs. We believe what we learned has value not only in helping to understand the challenges and accomplishments that have passed but also in its potential for guiding the future of federal and other legislation protecting the rights of and improving and sustaining the services needed for individuals with disabilities.

2021 ◽  
pp. 002246692110285
Author(s):  
Zorka Karanxha ◽  
Jeannie Kleinhammer-Tramill ◽  
Alta Joy Broughton

This article is part of a case study of federal leadership in special education from the perspective of those who served in the roles of Assistant Secretaries of Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) and Directors of Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), or their equivalents in the former U.S. Office of Education and later U.S. Department of Education. The perspectives cover the time-period since the passage of the Education of the Handicapped Act of 1975 to amendments of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1997 and the end of the Clinton administration in 2001. The participants detailed their (a) Career and appointment, (b) vision for educating students with disabilities, (c) theory of change, (d) politics and financial constraints, (e) advocacy, and (f) views of the past, present, and future.


1998 ◽  
Vol 180 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Nathanson

This article deals in depth with perhaps the most troubling education issue of the day—funding and proper distribution of educational resources. How is the money raised and how is its allocation decided? Can the ideals of both justice and equality be served? Is “extra” spending on behalf of children with special needs justified? Stephen Nathanson raises the central questions and, approaching them from a moral-philosophical standpoint, presents and evaluates the arguments of those who defend extra spending for children with disabilities and those who believe that “unequal” spending violates the principle of justice. Nathanson treats various theories of distributive justice—entitlement, utilitarianism, the “difference principle,” and the “decent level” idea. In focusing on the latter, he contends that social consensus developed around “decent level” may be the touchstone, more helpful than any rationale (or rhetoric) in satisfying the claims of justice and equality.


2018 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-39
Author(s):  
Sara E. N. Kangas

With many students learning English also identified with disabilities in public schools, collaborations across special education and English learner (EL) education are critical to promoting these students’ academic and linguistic development. Yet, many special education and EL teachers work independently of one another, focusing on their own specialized roles. In the process, students with disabilities who are learning English receive fragmented, inadequate special education and EL services. This article provides specific strategies—cocreating individualized education programs and instituting consultations—special education and EL teachers can implement to break out of their isolated roles and to build synergistic relationships that benefit the learning of students with disabilities who are learning English.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernita Maulida ◽  
Esty Nurbaity ◽  
Vera Utami G. P

Entrepreneurship education helps to form appropriately entrepreneurial mindsets and behaviors in students. This is not only for normal students but also students with special needs in tertiary institutions. This study aims to identify the entrepreneurial intention of students with special needs (disability) at Jakarta State University (UNJ). This research used the case study research method, where the casesare students with disabilities at UNJ who are registered as active students. Data was collected using unstructured interviews. The research revealed three core indicators of student entrepreneurial intention. These are 1) elements of intention (cognition, emotions and conations), 2) characteristics of an entrepreneur and 3) business ethics. The results of this study state that students with disabilities know about entrepreneurship (cognition) and have a desire to become an entrepreneur (emotion) and have experience in trying entrepreneurship (conations). In addition, the students with disabilities also know what needs to be prepared to become an entrepreneur such as the readiness of the risks to be faced and how to run a good business. Keywords: entrepreneurship education, disability student, higher education, entrepreneurial intention


Simulacra ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-236
Author(s):  
Wiwid Megananda

This article is entitled Becoming Lesbians: A Symbolic Interactionism Study of Lesbian Identity (Case Study in the City of Surabaya). Researchers focus on lesbian individuals not on the lesbian community. The problem raised by the researcher is how the whole process of choosing someone to be a lesbian and the symbols used for interaction with other lesbians. The purpose of this study is to know how a person chooses his life as a lesbian and to find out the symbols used to interact with lesbians. The method used is a qualitative method with a phenomenological approach. In this study informants numbered four people and all four occupy their respective roles in lesbians. From the results of this study there are several reasons why someone chooses to become a lesbian: social profiles, her-story, lesbian firts time, what changes, reactions and what next. From these concepts, the conclusion is that family background does not influence a person to become a lesbian, but rather from personal experiences in the past or experiences with social relations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 313-318
Author(s):  
Julia J. Davidson ◽  
Therese M. Cumming ◽  
Iva Strnadová

With the rising use of service dogs to support students with disabilities, it is important that teachers are knowledgeable about how they can be incorporated into their classroom. A recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court has highlighted the legal responsibility of schools to allow access to the service dogs of students. However, information focusing on the preparation of teachers for this possibility is lacking. This article provides both general and special education teachers with guidelines for including service dogs in their classroom. Background information regarding service dogs is included in addition to practical considerations concerning students, the classroom, the service dog, and planning process.


2000 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
James O. Tate

This article reviews court decisions and compliance issues of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 1997, that impact rural public school special education programs. IDEA funding, alternative placement options, and qualitative standard requirements. Select elements of the IDEA 1997 Amendments are of particular importance to rural schools. Those elements are funding compliance requirements, changes in the identification and evaluation of eligible students with disabilities, and the qualitative standards required for providing special education and related services. Rural schools do not receive special compliance exemptions under the IDEA. The article presents court decisions in which litigation has produced guidelines for school administrators regarding use of resources, accommodations, modifications, and qualitative standards in rural special education programs.


2014 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Stephenson ◽  
Mark Carter

Although qualified special educators are more likely to provide effective teaching for students with disabilities and special education needs, it seems many teachers in special education and support positions are not qualified for this role. The study reported here provided analysis of 219 job advertisements for special education positions in order to ascertain what employers required of applicants for special education positions. Advertisements represented all states and sectors in Australia, although the sample does not fully reflect the relative numbers of schools in each state. Most positions were for class teachers or for teachers providing support within and across schools. Special education qualifications and experience in special education were not common criteria for employment. The concerns raised by this finding are addressed through suggestions for formal recognition for special educators and accreditation of teacher education programs preparing special educators.


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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