The document discusses key topics related to students with mild to moderate intervention needs including definitions, prevalence, and specific disabilities. It distinguishes between disabilities and handicaps, noting disabilities are lifelong while handicaps depend on environmental demands. Several terms are used interchangeably to refer to this population. Data finds around 9% of students have disabilities, with about 64% having high-incidence disabilities like specific learning disabilities, emotional/behavioral disorders, or cognitive disabilities. Federal and state definitions of specific disabilities are discussed.

1. CHARACTERISTICS OF STUDENTS WITH MILD/MODERATE INTERVENTION NEEDS SPED 4/53050 INSTRUCTOR: BRIAN FRIEDT Week two: Definitions and prevalence

2. Labeling Benefits Avenue to services Assuming standard definition, gives teachers information Precision Potential risks Stigmatization and marginalization Negative shaping of teacher expectation

3. Disability/handicap The text makes the following distinction: A disability is an “atypical inability to perform a specific skill or a diminished capacity to perform a particular skill” (p. 5) A handicap is a “disadvantage or inability imposed on an individual through an interaction with the demands of a particular environment” (p. 5) Generally, disabilities are lifelong conditions, while handicaps are situation dependent

4. Definitional clarity Several different ways to refer to roughly the same population: Text: “high-incidence disabilities” Title of our course: “mild/moderate intervention needs” Kent State’s description of licensure: “The Mild-Moderate Educational Needs Intervention Specialist license is valid for teaching learners from ages 5 through 21, and grades K through 12 who have been identified with a disability that requires mild to moderate intervention (e.g. learning disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, developmental disabilities.)”

5. Definitional clarity To further complicate the issue, the text refers to “mild mental retardation.” Ohio uses the term “cognitive disabilities” and does not make a distinction based on severity or intensity. Kent lists “developmental disabilities” under both the mild/moderate license and the moderate/severe license.

6. Prevalence High incidence refers to the incidence within the special education population, not within the school population in general Most recent data from OSEP (2006): Students with disabilities comprise 9.2% of the school age (5-21) population. Students with high incidence disabilities (SLD, EBD, CD) comprise about 64% of that population.

7. Prevalence

8. Services FAPE (free and appropriate public education) IEP (individualized education program) LRE (least restrictive environment) CAP (continuum of alternative placements) ( Much more on all of this beginning in November)

9. Emotional and behavioral disorders Exhibits one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and to a marked degree: Inability to learn not explained by other factors Inability to build and maintain satisfactory relationships Inappropriate behaviors/feelings Pervasive unhappiness Tendency to develop physical symptoms as a result of stress or fear

10. Emotional and behavioral disorders Federal definition (and Ohio’s) are fairly subjective. Non-specific language and no operational definitions How long is a “long period?” What are “satisfactory relationships?” Alternate definitions exist

11. Specific learning disabilities Disorder in one or more of the major psychological processes involved in understanding or using language, resulting in an imperfect ability to: Listen Think Speak Read Write Spell Do math

12. Specific learning disabilities Cannot be the result of another disability or an environmental, cultural or economic factor “ unexpected underachievement” Longstanding disagreement over actual rate in the population and effective identification

13. Cognitive disabilities Significantly subaverage intellectual functioning (in Ohio, an IQ score lower than 70 or, if appropriate in the judgment of a certified clinician, less than 75) Deficits in adaptive behavior (conceptual skills, social skills, practical skills,) Note: while the text will refer to mild mental retardation, I will use the language from Ohio’s definition. This might be occasionally confusing, but highlights the importance of definition as discussed earlier; in Ohio, think “cognitive disability,” not mental retardation.