I need Information on how to work with special education children on
different levels at the same time.

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Request for Question Clarification by omniscientbeing-ga on 09 Sep 2003 17:41 PDT

What exactly do you mean by "different levels?" Different grade/age
levels, and/or different levels of disability, or what?

omniscientbeing-ga
GA Researcher

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Clarification of Question by bap-ga on 10 Sep 2003 10:15 PDT

I have a large group of special ed. kids at one time with disabilities
from autism, developmentally delayed kindergarteners, MR, LD, ADHD
that range in grades from k-6 th grade. How do I work with them all at
the same time if they all need such different goals and objectives.
WHAT DO I DO>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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Clarification of Question by bap-ga on 10 Sep 2003 10:15 PDT

Yes- All different ages and abilities at one time.............

Have you tried your local college.  I would assume that you are a
teacher.  Most larger colleges have research studies on teaching.  I
can not help you at this point with an exact but I will try and get
you this answer.  I have a very good friend who is having this problem
only with the high school age.  He says that that information is so
hard to come by.  Maybe time to keep notes and write a book, your
experiences may be useful to many others.  BUt try to contact one of
your local larger colleges and get research from there. I hope that
this helps you in some way

You've got an impossible situation. One problem is that you've got a
mix of both ages and disabilities. For instance (to take an example
I'm familiar with), it would be extremely difficult to deal with ADHD
kids if some are in kindergarten and some in 6th grade, or with LD
kids in the same age/grade range. Their learning styles, knowledge
levels (such as ability to read), etc., will vary greatly. However,
you're also dealing with a mix of disabilities. Special Ed classes do,
of course, include a mix...but even then there are problems. A kid
with a mild learning disability needs different interventions than one
with autism. Also, mixing hyperactive ADHD kids with autistic ones
would be like mixing gasoline and a flame. The hyperactive kids will
drive the autistic kids mad; the latter can't handle the stimulation.

It sounds as if your school/school district is simply trying to
warehouse all the special ed kids. And that's wrong...and illegal. If
any of them have IEPs, the school is mandated by the IEP to provide
those services. Even if the kids only have a 504 plan, there are
things that should be done. Here are some options:

(1) Talk to your supervisor and explain the problem. (That's really
what you should do first...and hopefully already have done.)

(2) Quit. (That's probably what you ought to do. As I said, you're in
an impossible situation.)

(3) Try to correct the situation. Talk to your supervisor first. Then
(and this may get you fired) pursue it up the chain of command--school
superintendent, school board.

(4) Contact your state's senators and your representative. Again, it
sounds as if what's going on is violating various laws (IDEA, Section
504 of the Civil Rights Act). Also contact the advocacy groups that
are involved with the disabilities in your classroom (CHADD for AD/HD,
for instance).

Hope that helps.