Special education is designed specifically for children with special needs for effective assimilation. Special education also involves and indicates the instruction of students with disabilities. It is, however, good to note that special education is not synonymous to separate education.
This type of education involves an individual and systematic planned and monitored procedures with specified materials and instruction manuals. Most epically, the special educationist is also trained just like any general educationist.
Special education, as opposed to general education, is often than not a service rather than a typical classroom setting. Although it may be a place, it is more of a service rendered to parents, caregivers, and teacher having a kid that needs special education.
However, children with special needs can, however, enroll in a general education setting with children without disabilities to help integration and reduce societal stigma and still be undergoing their special education and this is referred to as inclusive education for its huge benefits. Here, children with disabilities learn alongside children without disabilities in the same class. This is because it has the benefits of:
Common Special Needs Include
Learning disabilities (such as dyslexia),
Communication disorders,
Emotional and behavioral disorders (such as ADHD),
Physical disabilities (such as osteogenesis imperfecta, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, and Friedreich’s ataxia),
Developmental disabilities (such as autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability).
Children with these kinds of special needs are likely to benefit from additional educational services such as different approaches to teaching, the use of technology, a specifically adapted teaching area, or a resource room.
And on the other hand, inclusive education happens when children with and without disabilities participate and learn together in the same class. According to research, this has proven to be helpful in having a huge form of impact and improvement on the kids. Asides the popular myths of inclusive education, the benefits outweighs its myths. And this includes:
In an inclusive education, the child can have a typical normal childhood life. The desire of most parents with a child with a disability is the worry of how their kids would be accepted in the wider society. Inclusive education is a microcosm of the larger society.
Another benefit is that inclusive education helps children with disability to develop a positive understanding of themselves and others. From the activities in the classroom, they learn, appreciate, reflect and understand individual differences. This also helps them to broaden their views about different people, cultures, and background.
Also, inclusive education breeds friendship, schools are crucial place where kids learn social, teamwork, cultivate and develop relationships. They learn to mingle and associate themselves with like-minded pupils whom they are fond of with or without disability.
Furthermore, academic skills are learnt. In inclusive classrooms, children with and without disabilities are expected to learn to read, write and do Math. With higher expectations and good instruction children with disabilities learn academic skills.
Lastly, inclusive education helps children to learn better. It is true that children learn by being together even though they all learn at their own pace and style. The philosophy of inclusive education is aimed at helping all children learn, everyone in the class benefits.