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Grand Canyon University: SPE-226
October 5, 2013
Different Kinds of Disabilities There are several different types of disabilities a child may have. There are disabilities such as intellectual disabilities, autism, severe disabilities, and multiple disabilities. All disabilities are different. They have different cause and may have different effects on the students learning.
Intellectual Disabilities Intellectual disability by definition is a disability characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior, which covers many everyday social and practice skills. This disability originates before the age of 18 (aaid.org). Intelligence tests are given to gauge if a person has an intellectual disability. Another test used is adaptive behavior scales. Students are observed to see if they have the ability to act appropriately in social situations and if they have the ability to take care of their personal needs (i.e. hygiene). Using both tests, a person can be diagnosed with an intellectual disability, which can be described as mild, moderate, severe, or profound. Intellectual disabilities may occur for a number of reasons. Although the causes are not always known, there are a few known causes such as sociocultural influences, biomedical factors, behavioral factors and unknown prenatal influences (Hardman, Drew & Egan 2011). Students with intellectual disabilities usually read on a reading level that is lower than that of other students their age. However with direct instruction a student with mild
Assignment #4 2 disabilities can progress well. Students with sever intellectual disabilities can also learn certain academic skills. It is important for all teachers to have appropriate material that is interesting for the students. Teachers should also have the student practice the necessary information, giving them step-by-step instructions. When speaking about education people with disabilities, GCU online lecture notes from week #4 states “According to Protecting Workers with Developmental Disabilities (n.d.), people with mild intellectual disabilities can learn basic academic and vocational skills. Those with moderate or sever intellectual disability can learn basic social, communication, and self-help skills. People with profound intellectual disability may be able to learn some basic self-help skills, but they may require constant supervision and care. It is important to understand that those with intellectual disabilities can become useful and valuable in society.
Autism
Autism is a disorder characterized by extreme withdrawal, self-stimulation, intellectual deficits, and language disorders (Hardman, Drew, and Egan 2011). Autism spectrum disorder is a broader term then autism. Children with autism spectrum disorders usually have impaired or delayed language. They may have stereotype behavior doing things like rocking back and forth and doing thing repetitively. People with autism spectrum disorder also have issue with changing activities, and they show a decreased intellectual capacity when compared to their non-disabled peers. Autism is another disorder that there are no known causes for. There has been mush speculation about what causes autism spectrum disorders, but there is still research being done. With that being said there is a lot still unknown about autism. Students with autism need an
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Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Students with autism can be placed in applied behavioral analysis (ABA) classes, specialized individual programs or inclusion classes and receive services.
Severe and Multiple Disabilities Severe disabilities are disabilities that affect and/or interfere with every aspects of that person’s life. Sever disabilities is not a separate category under IDEA. IDEA lists multiple disabilities as a separate category. IDEA defines multiple disabilities and concomitant impairments (such as intellectual disabilities-blindness, intellectual disabilities-orthopedic impairment, etc.), the combination of which cause such severe educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for one of the impairments. The term does not include deaf-blindness (Hardman, Drew & Egan 2011). Severe disabilities happen for many different reasons. There is genetics, chromosomal abnormalities and metabolic disorders, to name a few. A mothers lifestyle such as not being healthy during her pregnancy and abusing drugs can also contribute to them birthing a baby with severe or multiple disabilities. Both severe and multiple disabilities can also happen later on in a person life due to accidents, diseases or due to people neglecting themselves physically and/or emotionally. People with severe and multiple disabilities have more than one condition. If they have an intellectual condition, their ability to learn depends on their intellectual disability. For those with multiple or sever disabilities basic academic skills are taught and related to their daily activities.
Curriculum for Students With Severe Disabilities
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Students with sever disabilities need to learn certain skills to maintain. They have to learn skills that will help them become independent. They also need to learn how to adapt in the community and become successful citizens.
Adaptive Skills Students with severe disabilities need to learn adaptive skills. Adaptive skills are taught so the students with severe disabilities can take care of themselves independently. They will learn how to dress, and keep up with their personal hygiene. Adaptive skills also help them learn how to become productive citizens by teaching them how to get a job and maintain money. Adaptive skills are also important because they learn social skills and how to communicate with others. This is important because students with severe disabilities are not on the same level as their peers.
Speech Services Students with severe disabilities tend to have speech issues; therefore they will need speech services. Speech services are extremely important because speech is one way of communication. Learning how to speak effectively contributes to positive communication skills.
Functional Skills Students with severe disabilities must learn functional skills. These skills include shopping at a store, eating at a restaurant or even learning to cross the street in a safe manner. Just as when the student is taught adaptive skills, it should be done in a natural setting. Worksheets, textbooks and other material will not work here. These children with severe disabilities must learn by seeing and doing.
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Services Offered in My School District The North Babylon School District had several services in place for students with autism, intellectual disabilities, and/or severe and multiple disabilities. They offer ABA classes for children with autism. They also offer speech services. There are services where a speech therapist pushes in and there are also services where the student in need is pulled out of the classroom to receive the services. In the older grades children with severe disabilities are taught adaptive and functional skills. They are taught how to go shopping by actually taking trips to local supermarkets. They are taught skills that will help them to get a job. All of these things address the areas of curriculum necessary for students with intellectual disabilities, autism and/or severe and multiple disabilities to live their life as independently as possible.

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References
GCU Lecture, SPE-226, Module 4, Lecture 4
Hardman, M.L. & Drew, C.J. & Egan, M.W. (2011). Human Exceptionality: School, Community and Family
American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Retrieved from http://aaidd.org/intellectual-disability/definition#.UlJRgSRP0Xw