2. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 &
Individual With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Section 504 is a federal law, and The Individual with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a statute; both are
designed to optimize learning for students with
disabilities.
They state that students with disabilities must receive
Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least
Restrictive Environment (LRE) possible.
3. Students who have special needs or students who fit
the definition of a child with a disability based on
Individual With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)’s
definition should be provided the same optimal
educational instruction opportunity as general
classroom students, and if possible, these students
should be included in the general classroom.
4. The Individualized Education Plan is an
individualized plan designed to optimize learning for
students with disabilities.
These specialized plans are uniquely created for each
student.
5. The Technology-Related Assistance of Individuals with
Disabilities Act of 1988 defines Assistive Technology
(AT) as
“any item, piece of equipment, or product system,
whether acquired commercially or off the shelf,
modified, or customized, that is used to increase,
maintain, or improve functional capabilities of
individuals with disabilities.”
6.
7. Student Strengths/Weakness and Interest
Assessments
At the beginning of the year (and maybe even
throughout the year) teachers may pass around a survey
asking students questions about their interest,
strengths, and weaknesses. The end result is a possible
more intimate understanding of your students’ likes and
dislikes, strengths and weakness, therefore providing
instruction that best suits them.
8. Differentiated Instruction & Assessments
Teachers vary instruction methods and assessments
based on students’ individual needs by catering to
various learning styles when teaching information, and
by providing various options in assessing information.
An example would be to offer students a variety of ways
to report information, such as typing the information,
creating a video, use of presentation software, or
creating a song of some type to display information
learned.
