What Do You Think about this? by https://padlet.com/laurie038/bjrwj0fvzqm1 With the knowledge that we are moving toward inclusive education and the focus on UDL and DI - do we need to still be using the reference "Special Education"? Use the password Special. en-us 2018-04-30 18:07:17 UTC 2018-05-04 02:22:13 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Balance.png Should we consider moving away from using the term "Special Education" now that we are moving to inclusive education. Does the term "special education" preclude inclusion by its very name?? laurie038 https://padlet.com/laurie038/bjrwj0fvzqm1/wish/256646199
Click anywhere on the padlet and share your thinking]]> 2018-04-30 18:14:52 UTC https://padlet.com/laurie038/bjrwj0fvzqm1/wish/256646199 We most definitely should move away from using the term special education, as well as labelling children. We need to view all students as unique with their own learning abilities and needs. If we continue to label students, we are perpetuating the stigma which may continue to create low self esteem/low confidence. nicola_corfield https://padlet.com/laurie038/bjrwj0fvzqm1/wish/256746144 2018-05-01 02:16:09 UTC https://padlet.com/laurie038/bjrwj0fvzqm1/wish/256746144 I am torn about this, I have thought about it over and over and feel that, yes, the name itself is limiting, takes away from the big idea surrounding differentiated instruction and inclusion. I agree that the stigma attached to it also has a huge impact on parents and kids. However, I feel like it would be so difficult to get away from this term "special education" and if we did what would we call it? https://padlet.com/laurie038/bjrwj0fvzqm1/wish/257016199 2018-05-01 19:29:24 UTC https://padlet.com/laurie038/bjrwj0fvzqm1/wish/257016199 I hear the concern posed about how would we then reference it? Perhaps we wouldn't need to refer to it but could look at a system of providing support when students are at different points on the continuum based on their needs whether it be their strengths that we need to promote or deficits that we need to address. latmenard https://padlet.com/laurie038/bjrwj0fvzqm1/wish/257083870 2018-05-02 01:36:38 UTC https://padlet.com/laurie038/bjrwj0fvzqm1/wish/257083870 https://padlet.com/laurie038/bjrwj0fvzqm1/wish/257177500 I think moving away from a term—any term really, eventually just leads to calling it by another term. Changing a term doesn’t necessarily change a mindset. I think if we are to continue to progress toward real inclusion, we should do away with the term “special education” and 
Ideally, shouldn’t all education should be special, unique and authentic for each learner?]]> 2018-05-02 10:36:43 UTC https://padlet.com/laurie038/bjrwj0fvzqm1/wish/257177500 I think we should most definitely move away from using the term special education. Having a label forms a lens in which people have difficulty seeing others independently of that label. Rather, I believe we should look at students on a continuum and focus on their individual strengths and needs. Joanna https://padlet.com/laurie038/bjrwj0fvzqm1/wish/257257325 2018-05-02 14:14:30 UTC https://padlet.com/laurie038/bjrwj0fvzqm1/wish/257257325 https://padlet.com/laurie038/bjrwj0fvzqm1/wish/257698695 Teacher's already try to meet the needs of all their students, IEP or no IEP, identified or not identified, 'special' or 'not special'. I agree that we don't need the term Special Education if we continue with UDL & DI. Labels can be detrimental to people's confidence.]]> 2018-05-03 15:08:39 UTC https://padlet.com/laurie038/bjrwj0fvzqm1/wish/257698695 https://padlet.com/laurie038/bjrwj0fvzqm1/wish/257893054 What if we called it "Supports?" Every student needs them, some might be more extensive and specific, others broad and general, but overall, every student would get Supports of some kind or another. They would be listed into the student profile and, similar to an IEP, it could be a living document that comes to every parent/teacher conference. The document and the "Supports" listed would be based on our professional judgment, stakeholders, families, colleague, admin input. Instead of a SERT, we'd have a Support Teacher who helps where needed, with greatest needs given top priority. Just a thought. JM]]> 2018-05-04 02:17:16 UTC https://padlet.com/laurie038/bjrwj0fvzqm1/wish/257893054