WHAT ARE THE GUIDELINES FOR SPECIAl education programs in PUBLIC SCHOOLS in the u.s.?
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Children with autism almost always have sensory issues. They pick up on things other people don’t. When they are in a general classroom, they notice every pencil scratching across paper and are overly focused on their surroundings. This sensory overload may cause them to act out or shut down. General education teachers who are not trained to notice these types of behaviors, may punish the student for “bad behavior”. Public schools in America legally have to use an IEP to guide the education of a child on the autism spectrum. IEP stands for individualized education plan, it is a document that is developed for each public school child who needs special education. It outlines the therapies and educational programs that will be provided to help ensure an autistic child's success. Therapies might include speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and behavioral therapy. School districts are legally required to meet the needs of every child. No two kids on the spectrum learn the same way, which makes it hard for special education programs, especially considering they are often under funded. Many children in these programs, especially those who are higher functioning, spend only part time with their special education teachers, and the rest of the time with the general education teachers.
The problems with special education in the U.S.
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As autism rates increase, it is harder and harder for schools to keep up with what each student needs. While there are many schools with amazing special education programs and well equipped teachers, there are also schools that lack the training, resources and professionals to provide students on the spectrum with the help they need. Many lower functioning students have to spend their entire school day in the special education classrooms as to help minimize distraction and fully provide them with the level of attention they need to learn. In these self-contained classrooms, autistic students do not have access to the same academic and extracurricular activities that are provided to other students. They also are not given the opportunity to interact with students in general education classrooms. All these factors make it that students on the spectrum are not prepared for adult life. Special education programs are incredibly underfunded, especially by the federal government. There is a large shortage of special education teachers, with a high turnover rate, and a substantial amount of them are not fully qualified. These unqualified teachers don’t know how to handle students who act out and often resort to restraint and seclusion, even in situations that pose no threat or harm. In some schools the use of restraint and seclusion is unregulated which has led to serious injury, trauma and in rare cases even death.