Representations of Learning Disabilities in Portugal

It is essential to study learning disabilities (LD) representations by education professionals since they are the ones who are more directly involved in their identification and intervention. This research analyzes the representations of the concept of LD of 310 Portuguese education professionals (regular education teachers, special education teachers, and psychologists). Through a questionnaire that consists of three parts, we examine the perspectives of the professionals regarding: 1) the identification criteria (e.g., exclusion; discrepancy; RTI) and the phenomenology of LD (manifestations; specific nature of LD); 2) the use, broad or narrow, of the LD term; and 3) the Portuguese legislation regarding LD. The results obtained indicate the agreement with the manifestations of LD (e.g., low achievement), with the criterion of discrepancy and with a dimensional view of LD. The professionals considered that LD may be due to contextual factors (e.g., socioeconomic disadvantage, family interactions, and inadequate teaching conditions). Participants also expressed agreement with a very comprehensive use of the term (e.g., in the absence of a diagnosis, in school failure situations). Education professionals also expressed a negative perspective regarding the educational support given to LD in Portugal. The comparisons between professional groups have documented the existence of certain significant differences.

Special Education Service Delivery Models Around the Globe

This chapter examines various service delivery models being used around the world. It discusses models of inclusion in which all students are placed into the public school educational arena and the regular education teachers provide the services to the student with special needs while the special education teacher is used as a consultant. It continues with a discussion about other types of service delivery models, such as separate schools or even institutions away from family, friends, and society. It concludes with a discussion about the future trends within the field of special education service delivery models and what can be done to improve them.

Special Education Service Delivery Models Around the Globe

This chapter examines various service delivery models being used around the world. It discusses models of inclusion, in which all students are placed into the public school educational arena and the regular education teachers provide the services to the student with special needs while the special education teacher is used as a consultant. It continues with a discussion about other types of service delivery models, such as separate schools or even institutions away from family, friends, and society. It concludes with a discussion about the future trends within the field of special education service delivery models and what can be done to improve them.

Obstacles to inclusion- perceptions of teachers from Bosnia and Herzegovina / Inkliuzinio ugdymo įgyvendinimo kliūtys: Bosnijos ir Hercegovinos mokytojų nuostatos

<p>Inclusive education is increasingly becoming a dominating paradigm of the educational system in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, although supported by positive legislature, there are still numerous obstacles to inclusion. The goal of the present study was to examine the attitudes of regular education teachers towards inclusive education, more specifically towards obstacles to successful inclusion. The sample consisted of 200 elementary school teachers from two cantons in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The greatest obstacle for inclusion as perceived by the teachers was the lack of professionals trained to work with children with special educational needs in regular schools. It is of utmost importance to support regular education teachers in their efforts to support all students in their classes. This calls for a more meaningful and thorough reformation of regular schools.</p><p>Inkliuzinis ugdymas tampa vis labiau dominuojančia Bosnijos ir Hercegovinos ugdymo sistemos paradigma. Nepaisant to, kad šią paradigmą remia įstatymai, vis dar yra nemažai kliūčių, trukdančių įgyvendinti inkliuzinį ugdymą. Šio tyrimo tikslas – išanalizuoti bendrojo lavinimo mokyklų mokytojų požiūrį į inkliuzinį ugdymą, ypač atkreipiant dėmesį į tai, kas trukdo sėkmingai įgyvendinti šį ugdymo metodą. Tyrimo imtį sudarė 200 bendrojo lavinimo mokyklų mokytojų iš dviejų Bosnijos ir Hercegovinos kantonų. Mokytojų nuomone, didžiausia inkliuzinio ugdymo įgyvendinimo kliūtis yra parengtų specialistų, kurie dirbtų su specialiųjų ugdymosi poreikių turinčiais vaikais bendrojo lavinimo mokykloje, trūkumas. Labai svarbu teikti paramą tiems bendrojo lavinimo mokyklų mokytojams, kurie per pamokas stengiasi padėti visiems mokiniams. Ši situacija suaktualina poreikį įgyvendinti prasmingesnę ir nuodugnesnę bendrojo lavinimo mokyklų reformą. </p><p> </p>

Exploring the K-5 special education referral process in one Midwest suburban school district

Studies have shown referrals for special education evaluations and the evaluation process itself is marred by teacher subjectivity and a lack of quantitative data (Dunn, 2006; Mamlin and Harris, 1998; and Ysseldyke et al.,1982). Consequently, this behavior leads to over identification of students from minority cultures due to their struggle to assimilate into the school environment (Deninger, 2008; Klingner and Harry, 2006; Parette, 2005; Poon-McBrayer and Garcia, 1994; Skiba et al., 2008; Wehmeyer and Schwartz, 2001). This study seeks to better understand the special education referral process in one Midwestern school district. Specifically, this qualitative study employed focus groups, interviews, and artifact collection to engage K-5 regular education teachers in conversations about common behaviors that prompt a referral for special education evaluation. The research was conducted in three elementary schools in a metropolitan school district.