9/14/09

It is not easy being different, so drastic changes in educating children with special needs have been made since the 1900's. Children with special needs deserve a fair and equal oppurtunity for education just as well as anyone else does. An exceptional child is any child that differs from the average child in 5 different categories, 1.mental characteristics, 2. sensory abilities, 3. communication characteristics, 4. behavior and emotional development, and 5. physical characteristics. These categories determine whether or not a child needs special educational services to help develop their education skills. A child is only considered exceptional when their differences demand a modification in their educational program.
The ecological approach was a very dramatic change in educators views on how to teach young children. People stopped looking at children from a medical model and started to try to understand how their environment affects their learning and behavior. I believe this was a good change because how a child is raised and what they are still exposed to is extremely important. Culture, peers, and family are all important factors that can impact children with special needs. Although the child may only be semi aware of these influences they still make a huge difference in their lives. One environmental factor that is most influential is the importance of family. If educators expect to be effective in special education then they need to work with the members of the family in which the child lives. I believe family support is one of the most important strengths for a child with special needs.