This chapter discusses special education, including the roles of special education teachers and other professionals. It outlines nine distinguishing characteristics of special education, including pacing, intensity, and collaboration. It also lists the 13 disability categories under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and notes that over 60% of students with disabilities spend most of their time in regular classrooms. The chapter concludes with qualities of being a good teacher for all students, such as respect, commitment, and evidence-based teaching approaches.

1. Chapter 1
Teaching Students with
Special Educational Needs:
Professional Roles and
Responsibilities
Based on: Special Education for Today’s Teachers: An Introduction,
by Rosenberg, Westling, and McLeskey (second edition)

2. Chapter 1 Questions
• What is special education about “special education?”
• Who do special education teachers teach?
• Where do they teach?
• What other professionals provide services to students
with special needs?
• What are the keys to be a successful teacher for all
students?

3. Perspectives on Special Education
• Parent: A hard-fought civil rights victory for
access to a free appropriate education.
• Administrator: Concern about expense of
delivering services as required by federal law.
• General Ed Teacher: Inclusion of students with
disabilities who need content enhancements.
• Special Ed Teacher: Providing individualized
instruction and support to students.
• Student: Receiving assistance and equipment that
allow participation in activities with classmates.

4. What is “Special” about Special Ed?
Nine Distinguishing Characteristics
• Pacing • Pupil-teacher ratio
• Intensity • Curriculum
• Relentlessness • Monitoring/assessing
• Structure • Collaboration
• Reinforcement

5. Public School Disability Categories
• Autism • Multiple disabilities
• Deaf-blindness • Orthopedic impairments
• Deafness • Other health impairments
• Emotional disturbance • Speech or language
• Hearing impairments impairments
• Learning disabilities • Traumatic brain injury
• Intellectual disability • Visual impairments and
(i.e., mental retardation) blindness
How many students with disabilities receive services?

6. Special Education Settings
• General education classroom (co-teaching)
• Part-time special class/resource room
• Full-time self-contained special classroom in
regular school
• Full-time, self-contained class in separate school
for students with disabilities
• Residential school for students with disabilities
• Student’s home or hospital
What percentage of students with disabilities are educated in regular
classrooms?

7. Other Service Providers
• School psychologists
• Physical and occupational therapists
• Speech/language pathologists
• Social workers
• School guidance counselors
• Art, music, and recreational therapists
• Paraeducators

8. Being a Good Teacher of ALL Students
• Respect and value human differences
• Commitment and positive attitude
• Caring, fairness, and respect
• Enthusiasm, motivation, and dedication
• Personal teaching efficacy
• Evidence-based teaching approaches