Issues in Rural Special Education that Affect Students with Severe Disabilities

2007 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 3-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Belva C. Collins
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Personnel Preparation ◽  
Highly Qualified ◽  
Preparation Programs ◽  
Core Content ◽  
Education Delivery ◽  
Students With Severe Disabilities ◽  
Alternate Routes

Rural special education teachers of students with severe disabilities and the institutions that prepare them often are faced with unique challenges. This article discusses the need for these teachers to be prepared as independent researchers, the need for a link between core content and functional skills in the curriculum that they teach, and the need for creativity in addressing transition options. In addition, the article discusses the need for personnel preparation programs in severe disabilities to have alternate routes to certification, distance education delivery, continued federal funding, and flexibility in meeting the law regarding the requirement that all teachers be highly qualified.

Special Education Teachers’ Perceptions of Preparedness to Teach Students With Severe Disabilities

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 273-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea L. Ruppar ◽  
Lance S. Neeper ◽  
Jennifer Dalsen
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Master's Degrees ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Experience Levels ◽  
Instructional Needs ◽  
Students With Severe Disabilities ◽  
Preparedness To Teach

In the current study, special education teachers’ perceptions of preparedness to implement recommended practices for students with severe disabilities were examined. A vignette-style survey was sent to special education teachers assigned to teach students with severe disabilities. Overall, respondents reported higher perceptions of preparedness to manage educational programs than to provide direct services to students with severe disabilities. Teachers with a generalist (i.e., cross-categorical) licensure were significantly less prepared to meet intensive medical, communication, and instructional needs of students with severe disabilities. Teachers with master’s degrees felt more prepared to work with students with severe disabilities in several key areas, although they felt less prepared to address long-term curriculum development. Perceptions of preparedness to teach students with severe disabilities varied among teachers with different types of teaching licenses, different levels of education, and different experience levels.

“Developing That Balance”: Preparing and Supporting Special Education Teachers to Work With Paraprofessionals

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth E. Biggs ◽  
Carly B. Gilson ◽  
Erik W. Carter
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Leadership Development ◽  
Teacher Development ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Personal Development ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Students With Severe Disabilities ◽  
Education Of Students

The prominence of paraprofessionals in the education of students with severe disabilities highlights the importance of ensuring special education teachers provide effective supervision and support. The authors conducted in-depth individual interviews with members of nine educational teams—a total of 22 teachers and paraprofessionals—to identify (a) the competencies they consider important for special education teachers to work effectively with paraprofessionals and (b) their recommendations for equipping teachers to develop these competencies. Participants identified 10 competencies addressing three areas contributing to balanced leadership: knowledge, skills, and dispositions. They also recommended eight avenues for leadership development spanning three broad pathways: university-based preparation, school/district support, and personal development. The authors’ findings suggest the need to embed development of these competencies within existing training and support programs for teachers. The authors offer recommendations for future research and practice targeting teacher development in these areas.

scholarly journals Special Education Teachers’ Perceptions of Their Preparedness to Teach Students With Severe Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms: A Saudi Arabian Perspective

SAGE Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 215824402095065
Author(s):  
Rashed Aldabas
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Students With Severe Disabilities ◽  
Preparedness To Teach ◽  
Practical Implications

Successful inclusive education for students with severe disabilities (SD) relies on the preparedness of their teachers. This descriptive study investigated special education teachers’ perceptions of their preparedness to teach students with SD in inclusive educational settings. A survey was sent to 382 teachers of such students. In general, findings indicate that participants were confident that they were prepared to teach students with SD in inclusive education. Findings also show that the lowest levels of confidence were reported by participants with the shortest working experience, participants who have taught students with moderate and severe intellectual disabilities and those with multiple disabilities, participants who have taught in the lower grades, and those who have already taught in general classrooms. The practical implications of the findings are discussed for supporting successful implementation of inclusive education for students with SD in terms of improving special education teachers’ preparedness.

Going the Distance to Train Teachers for Students with Severe Disabilities: The University of Utah Distance Teacher Education Program

2007 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 26-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Matt Jameson ◽  
John Mcdonnell
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Distance Education ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Highly Qualified ◽  
Rural And Remote ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Remote Areas ◽  
Rural And Remote Areas ◽  
The University

Research indicates that there is a significant and chronic shortage of highly-qualified special education teachers nationally. Although the shortages of highly-qualified teachers are pervasive across all disability categories they are particularly significant in the area of severe disabilities. This is especially true in rural and remote areas. The general conclusion of researchers is that the most effective way to address the chronic shortage of special education teachers in rural and remote communities is to identify, recruit, train, and support individuals from the local area. However, this necessitates the development and delivery of comprehensive distance education programs. This article describes the evolution of the distance education programs in the Department of Special Education at the University and the current program in place to help alleviate the critical special education teaching shortage in rural and remote areas.

Developing Culturally Inclusive Services for Individuals with Severe Disabilities

1995 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth Harry ◽  
Marquita Grenot-Scheyer ◽  
Marsha Smith-Lewis ◽  
Hyun-Sook Park ◽  
Fu Xin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Identity ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Position Paper ◽  
Personnel Preparation ◽  
Preparation Programs ◽  
Building Relationships ◽  
Cultural Inclusion ◽  
Inclusive Approach ◽  
Students With Severe Disabilities ◽  
Race And Culture

In this position paper, we argue that concerns about race and culture largely have been ignored with respect to students with severe disabilities. We caution, however, that variables such as acculturation, social class, and education must be included in any consideration of cultural identity to avoid stereotyping. Second, we use the term “cultural inclusion” to indicate the need to address cultural features directly when planning for inclusion of students with severe disabilities. In this paper, we propose essentials of a culturally inclusive approach to building relationships with families and to assessment, placement, instruction, and programming for such students. Third, we call for a multicultural emphasis in personnel preparation programs, with a focus on process rather than cultural content. The paper concludes with suggestions for a research agenda.

Special Education Teacher Preparation in Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgan Chitiyo ◽  
George Odongo ◽  
Ambumulire Itimu-Phiri ◽  
Florence Muwana ◽  
Mary Lipemba
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Teacher Preparation ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Teacher Shortage ◽  
Special Education Teacher ◽  
Educational Systems ◽  
Highly Qualified ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Preparation Programs ◽  
Education Teacher

Abstract Researchers have repeatedly identified special education teacher shortage as one of the factors that have stymied the development of special education in many African countries. Highly qualified special education teachers are an integral part of successful national educational systems. In order to ensure an optimum supply of qualified special education teachers in any country, one can start by examining special education teacher preparation programs in the country. In this paper, the authors sought to explore special education teacher preparation in Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe to identify the characteristics, key features, gaps, and therefore come up with specific recommendations. In doing this the authors hope that this information would be helpful to researchers, practitioners, policy-makers, and organizations that are interested in contributing to the development of special education in these countries through personnel preparation.

Explaining the Decline in Special Education Teacher Employment From 2005 to 2012

2017 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jim Dewey ◽  
Paul T. Sindelar ◽  
Elizabeth Bettini ◽  
Erling E. Boe ◽  
Michael S. Rosenberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
General Education ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Public Law ◽  
General Educators ◽  
Special Education Teacher ◽  
Teacher Preparation Programs ◽  
Preparation Programs ◽  
Disability Prevalence ◽  
Constituent Elements

Demand for special education teachers grew continuously from the passage of Public Law 94-142 in 1975 through 2005, when this trend reversed. From 2005 to 2012, the number of special education teachers employed by U.S. schools declined by >17%. The primary purpose of this investigation was to determine factors that contributed to this decline. We parsed change in number of special education teachers employed into four constituent elements and found that these recent reductions were fueled by decreases in disability prevalence and the relative ratio of teachers to students in special versus general education, which favored the latter. These changes have important implications for teacher preparation programs’ efforts to adequately prepare special and general educators and for policies designed to improve teacher quality.

Comparing Instructional Contexts of Students with and without Severe Disabilities in General Education Classrooms

1998 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kent R. Logan ◽  
D. Michael Malone
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
General Education ◽  
Elementary Classrooms ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Group Instruction ◽  
Education Students ◽  
General Education Students ◽  
Instructional Supports ◽  
Instructional Contexts ◽  
Students With Severe Disabilities

This study compared the instructional contexts of 15 students with severe disabilities who were educated in general education elementary classrooms, and 15 general education students in those same classrooms. Results suggest that (a) different instructional contexts existed for students with severe disabilities; (b) more individualized instructional supports were provided for the students with severe disabilities, including one-to-one instruction, small group instruction provided by special education staff, physical and gestural prompting, and teacher focus on the student with severe disabilities; (c) most of the more individualized supports were provided by special education staff. Implications for supporting students with severe disabilities in general education elementary classrooms are discussed.

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