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eBooks
Diversity, Special Needs, and Inclusion in Early Years Education
Instead of segregating children with special needs from the rest, Diversity, Special Needs, and Inclusion in Early Years Education argues for inclusiveness in educational institutions, through changes in curriculum and teaching methods. The book presents case studies from various countries as well as theoretical frameworks, models, approaches and projects on diversity and inclusion to effective implementation of programmes and practices for young children. Each chapter of the book has a unique contribution to understanding the aspects of inclusive education taken from international experience. This edited volume is for professionals and researchers in the field of special education, policy makers, parents and teachers, and school management. It would be of interest to people working on diversity and inclusive education as well as in early childhood education organisations. NGOs working in the area of special education will find this particularly useful.
Publication Date: 2015
Disability Studies
The chapters contributing to this edited volume are presented to assist readers with a critical examination of contemporary practice and offer a concerted response to improving inclusive education. The chapters address a range of important topics related to the field of critical disability studies in education and include sections dedicated to Schools, Higher Education, Family and Community and Theorising.
Publication Date: 2015
Online Videos
Down Syndrome Queensland - What is Inclusion?
A short video produced by Down Syndrome Queensland in conjunction with Griffith Film School and Pullenvale State School. The 4-minute video showcases the difference between integration, perceived inclusion and true inclusion in a classroom environment.
Reaching Ricky
Ricky is eleven and has severe autism. Phoebe Caldwell has been working with adults and children with learning difficulties for over thirty years. She uses a communication method called Intensive Interaction to get through to people like Ricky.
Redefining Special Education and Student Support for Today's Teacher: A Culture of Inclusion
In this program, special education expert Lee Ann Jung takes viewers for an inside look at inclusive excellence in action. Viewers visit several classrooms to see what real inclusion looks like and to discover how it benefits all students, with and without learning differences.
Severe and Complex Needs in the Mainstream School
Video: Severe and Complex Needs in the Mainstream School, Produced by Big Heart Media, In Secondary SEN, 1 (Teachers TV/UK Department of Education, 2009)
Severe and Complex Needs in the Mainstream School
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Abstract
At Mulberry School a small group of girls with severe and complex needs are integrated into the mainstream school through their work in the Discovery Group. We see them first in the multi-sensory room with SENCO Rachel Wheeler and SEN teacher Lauren Denyer, working on their receptive and expressive language and communication skills as part of their daily routine. We also see some of the techniques used to develop letter and word recognition and pre-reading skills with these girls. A group of teachers and TAs choose to take classes in signing to help them communicate with the girls. In the food technology class, led by special needs teacher Vic Lee, the Discovery Group girls are joined by other girls with less complex needs who benefit from helping these girls out. Finally we see the Discovery Group girls in the school's Poetry Café during Book Week where they are able to share and perform their favourite poems and enjoy the contributions of their mainstream peers.
Speech and Language Strategies
Teacher Liz Curry and speech therapist Jenny Barrett at Carden Primary School's Speech and Language Centre demonstrate the key strategies used at the centre to enable children with severe speech and language difficulties to successfully return to mainstream schooling. Fundamental to their visual approach is the use of Makaton symbols and signs, including British Sign Language, cued articulation, teaching core vocabulary, concepts and memory skills. This programme observes the powerful impact these strategies have on children's ability to comprehend and communicate confidently.
Temple Grandin
Temple Grandin, diagnosed with autism as a child, talks about how her mind works -- sharing her ability to "think in pictures," which helps her solve problems that neurotypical brains might miss. She makes the case that the world needs people on the autism spectrum: visual thinkers, pattern thinkers, verbal thinkers, and all kinds of smart geeky kids.
Understanding Disabilities
How could a child be a top math student yet not be able to read? Why can another child read well but not be able to write a paragraph that makes sense? While watching children being taught new ways to learn, this program offers expert insight into the nature of learning disabilities, why learning disabilities may also be accompanied by ADHD or social disorders, and what can be done to help children learn to compensate and succeed. A Meridian Production. (16 minutes)
Working with Pupils with Down's Syndrome
Amina is a 14-year-old pupil with Down's syndrome in Year 10 at the Plashet School in east London. In the programme we see how every effort is made to include Amina in appropriate mainstream classes with suitable support, and how her individual needs are also met by targeted one-to-one sessions. We feature a practical science lesson, focused maths and reading support and a 'Lifeskills' lesson to prepare the Year 10s for their work experience attachments.
Online Journals / Articles
Touching the virtual, touching the real : iPads and enabling literacy for students experiencing disability
In this article the authors discuss the potential of iPads for supporting literacy learning in special education, with a focus on how the gestural and sensory experience of touch can enable young learners with moderate to complex physical and/or cognitive disability to engage in fun, independent and inclusive classroom-based literacy activities. They report on a case study where they observed the literacy learning opportunities offered by the touch screen interface provided by iPads for a diverse group of students aged 3 to 19 years in a special school in the English Midlands
International Journal of Special Education
The International Journal of Special Education (IJSE) offers a wide range of multi-disciplinary topics regarding education and services for individuals with disabilities. This International peer reviewed journal (published in English) aims to enhance open access for all reporting the growth of theory and practice in the field.
Junior Fiction
Don't Call Me Special
Are there kids in your life who need a comforting and reassuring way to learn about physical disabilities? This is the perfect book and will show the grit that is shown when people with a physical disabilities or special needs live happy and full lives.
The Wrong Stone
What is it like to be different? To stand out? To feel unwanted? The Wrong Stone knows...Jonsey was always a wrong stone. Born with cerebral palsy, speech and mobility were a constant struggle. But more of a struggle were the indifference, prejudice and intolerance he faced as he asserted his right for a meaningful place and a voice in our community...He was killed when his powered wheelchair was caught in rail lines...
Technology in the Classroom
Assistive Technology Resources
There are a number of resources freely available to assist with selecting appropriate assistive technology and utilising assistive technology effectively.
Dictation and Screen Readers
For students who have literacy difficulties, reading for comprehension and producing extended written passages can be very challenging. In the classroom, this often results in reduced content knowledge and understanding, reduced vocabulary development and poor ability to demonstrate their skills and knowledge at a level consistent with their overall understanding. By allowing the use of assistive technology, we can reduce some of the difficulties that students may face when being asked to read and process large amounts of text and when asked to complete written tasks and assessments.
Using Microsoft Learning Tools
Learning tools are designed to support decoding, reading fluency, reading comprehension and writing skills by providing the user with additional user options.
Learning with Interactive Whiteboards
Used increasingly in schools around the world, interactive whiteboards give teachers extraordinary new ways to reach students. This program introduces the interactive whiteboard, explains how it works, and demonstrates specific ways it can be used in the classroom. Viewers will learn about typical board interfaces such as pen or touch-screen, what other tools and technologies can be used in conjunction with whiteboards, and what types of practical whiteboard applications teachers might prefer depending on lower-grade or high school settings. The interactive whiteboard’s ability to reduce a teacher’s workload is also discussed.
Integrating Digital Technologies into ECEC Programs
In this post, we draw on actual classroom learning experiences from two Australian Research Council studies: (i) Investigating Mobile Technologies in Young Children’s Everyday Worlds (FT120100731) and (ii) Interacting with Knowledge, Interacting with People: Web Searching in Early Childhood (DP110104227), to provide practice examples of a range of digital technology modalities used in ECEC classrooms, including YouTube, web searching for information and images, online shopping, email, and maps.
Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child
The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child is the world’s first research centre dedicated to creating positive digital childhoods for all Australian children.
Children are growing, learning and connecting with digital technology that’s rapidly evolving and changing. Australians are asking: How can technology help my child learn? How do I know good digital engagement from bad? How much technology is safe for my child? How do I keep my child safe online?
Books in the Library
Adapting Early childhood Curricula for Children with Special Needs
"This comprehensive text on early childhood special education emphasizes a developmental focus over a disability focus. The authors believe that children are more alike than different in their developmental processes and avoids the negative impact of labeling children with disability categorical names. The authors have produced a book that offers educators a practical and effective guide to finding learning opportunities within daily curriculum activities and routine. The current edition maintains the focus on inclusive, family-centered, real-world approaches that are also theoretically based.
Publication Date: 2014
Growing up Disabled in Australia
"One in five Australians has a disability. And disability presents itself in many ways. Yet disabled people are still underrepresented in the media and in literature. In Growing Up Disabled in Australia - compiled by writer and appearance activist Carly Findlay OAM - more than forty writers with a disability or chronic illness share their stories, in their own words. The result is illuminating." -- bacj cover.
Publication Date: 2021
Inclusive Education in the Early Years: Right from the Start
Inclusive Education in the Early Years introduces key concepts of inclusion, disability and inclusive education within the context of early childhood education. It focuses on effective approaches to facilitating inclusive education in the early years, addresses the Key Learning Areas and incorporates consideration of the prior to school, transition and early childhood school years. The text covers critical aspects of teacher development in relation to fostering inclusive language and communication, enabling social interactions (including play) and supporting positive behaviour development.This book encourages and supports educators and other early years professionals to develop their own skills, knowledge and confidence in creating inclusive early years learning environments.
Publication Date: 2014
Methods and Strategies for Teaching Students with High Incidence Disabilities
Students in special education methods courses often become overwhelmed by the numerous methods and insufficient practice opportunities to apply techniques in actual teaching situations. That won't happen with METHODS AND STRATEGIES FOR TEACHING STUDENTS WITH HIGH INCIDENCE DISABILITIES: A CASE-BASED APPROACH. The book's focused approach presents just five to seven techniques in detail in each chapter. You'll see methods in action in case studies, and practice effective teaching methods and techniques through application activities. You'll also find information to help you address culturally, economically, linguistically, and ethnically diverse learners, among others.
Publication Date: 2019
Teaching Communication Skills to Students with Severe Disabilities
How can educators and therapists support effective communication for students with severe and multiple disabilities? Today's best research strategies are in the new third edition of this trusted textbook and teaching guide. Current and future education professionals will get up-to-date information and practical guidance on the entire process of supporting communication for students of all ages, from assessing their communication skills to involving peers and adults in intervention. An important textbook and professional reference, this comprehensive volume will help educators, paraprofessionals, SLPs, and other school staff skillfully support every student's right to communicate. The topics covered include: communication assessement, intervention strategies, identification of natural opportunities to teach skills, augmentative and alternative communication techniques, collaborative learning, challenging behavouir, Funcitonal Communication Training, literacy instruction, and peers as communication partners. The new edition has more emphasis on technology, a new chapter on the relationship between communication and challenging behaviour; a new chapter on communication and literacy; more on making AAC devices accessible and attainable; new case examples to show strategies and interventions in action; and more.
Publication Date: 2015
Websites
Association For Children With a Disability
Every child and young person has the right to participate, learn and achieve at school. Students with disability have the right to enrol in a school on the same basis as students without disability, and schools must make reasonable adjustments so that students with disability can participate on the same basis as other students.
Children with Special Educational Needs
We are committed to ensuring that every child, including those with special educational needs, has access to a high quality education. Education is a vital part of your children’s lives. It gives them the opportunity to learn and socialise with others, and develop friendships and the tools they need to become active members of their communities.
Down Syndrome Australia - Education
Our education resources provide up-to-date advice about how to support people with Down syndrome in schools and education.
Down Syndrome - Education Toolkit
These resources have been developed for educators and teachers, families and people with Down syndrome and the general community to promote better understanding of inclusive education and what adjustments, both academic and social, can be made to support the participation of all.
iPad Apps for Learners with Dyscalculia/ Numeracy Difficulties
A list of apps that will help to embed numerical learning and to give opportunities for repeated practice of concepts that cause difficulty.
Khan Academy: A personalized learning resource for all ages
Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. We tackle math, science, computing, history, art history, economics, and more, including K-14 and test preparation (SAT, Praxis, LSAT) content. We focus on skill mastery to help learners establish strong foundations, so there's no limit to what they can learn next!
SPELD SA
SPELD SA have created free resources, sourced useful websites, and provided links to other free resources for you to use when teaching literacy and numeracy for those working or living with specific learning difficulties.
Twinkl
The trusted home of teacher-created planning and assessment materials and teaching resources aligned to the Australian Curriculum! Includes Primary levels EYLF, F-2, Years 3-4, Years 5-6; and includes Secondary levels Years 7-8 and Years 9-10.