This document provides an overview of special education, including key laws and expectations for special educators. It discusses how special education aims to meet the individual needs of exceptional learners through tailored services and Individualized Education Plans. Special educators are expected to assess students' skills, organize appropriate activities, teach and support students individually and in groups, and collaborate with students, families, and colleagues. They must respect all students' diversity and promote learning for each student.

1. Welcome to
Special Education
Jennifer Z. Armitage
University of Phoenix, Department of Education
ELM/512: Teaching the Exceptional Learner
Regina Maldonado, Ed. D

2. Introduction
● Special Education is a type of
education to meet the needs of students
that are exceptional learners.
● It provides a range of tailored
services just for to meet the needs of
your individual child.
● Children who qualify for special
education will also have an IEP
(Individualized Education Plan).

3. State and Federal Laws
● IDEA states that children will be allowed free public
education without discrimination.
○ IDEA states that agencies provide education intervention and special
education to students (sites.ed.gov, 2020).
● Education for All Handicapped Children Act states
children with special needs are given the same public
education as those with mental and physical disabilities
● The civil right movement, though at first focusing on
African Americans rights, began to shift the focus during
for all students to be integrated into public education.
○ This was the result of Brown V. Board of Education (Friends &
Bursuck, 2019)

4. Expectations from Special Educators
● Assess students’ skills to determine
their individual needs
● Organize and assign students with
activities to suit their needs.
● Teach, support, and mentor students on
an individual basis, in small groups
and as a whole class.
● Write Individualized Education Plan in
an understandable manner.
(Grafwallner, 2017)

5. Code of Ethics
● Special Education teachers and all
teachers are required to “exemplify
the highest ethical standards. They
adhere to the ethical guidelines
aligned with the national and state
standards for their specialization
and demonstrate the disposition of a
professional educator”
(University of Phoenix, 2020)

6. Advocating to Meet the Needs of All Students
“All students can learn and embrace
the role of advocating for and
supporting the interests of the whole
chile. They engage students and their
parents as partners in a positive,
learning-focused classroom
community”
(University of Phoenix, 2020).

7. Special Educators Promote Learning
● Special Educators will always
promote learning in every
individual student and focus
education on students’ specific
needs.
● Special Educators will apply
educational strategies to all
differing personal and family
backgrounds and various skills,
abilities, and interests.

8. The Special Educator Demonstrating Respect
● All students will be respected,
acknowledged, and valued through
all aspects of the diverse learner.
● Special educators will “demonstrate
the value of diversity and equity,
implement inclusive practices
within instruction, and provide a
welcoming classroom environment and
high-quality instruction to
students in diverse school
settings”.
(University of Phoenix, 2020)

9. Collaboration with Learners, Families and Collegues
● Special education teachers “engage in students and their
parents as partners in a positive, learning-focused
classroom community (University of Phoenix, 2020).
● Offering specifics is an important part of communication
with parents.
● Building a relationship means having a common vocabulary
in which we can communicate smoothly.
● Let’s work together and communicate with each other to
build the support that your child needs.

10. Collaboration with Learners, Families and Colleagues
● There are psychologists, colleagues, school support
staff, Special Education professionals, behavior support
teams, and administration to offer support.
● Active listening and patience are important aspects of
the special education teacher.
○ At times, it can be hard to communicate our feelings and needs,
active listening and patience can make a great difference in a
child’s learning.

11. References
About idea. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. (2020, November 24). https://sites.ed.gov/idea/about-idea/.
Friend, M., & Bursuck, W. D. (2019). Including students with special needs: A practical guide for classroom teachers (8th ed.).
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Grafwallner, P. (2017, December 19). What i've learned from special ed teachers. Edutopia.
https://www.edutopia.org/article/what-ive-learned-special-ed-teachers.
University of Phoenix. (2020). College's Conceptual Framework. https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/COE/Teacher-Education-
Handbook/docs/conceptual-framework/Conceptual_Framework_Overview.pdf