The Special Education Process
Accommodations change the way students are taught material.
Alternative programs are developed to help students gain experience outside of the Ontario curriculum. They are typically focused on life skills.
Assessment accommodations are adjustments in assessment activities and methods required to enable the student to demonstrate learning.
Assistive technology refers to equipment or software that enhances learning and living for people with unique abilities and needs.
Behaviour modification uses both positive and negative reinforcers/consequences to try and encourage positive behaviour.
Culturally responsive teaching approaches encourage students to leverage their cultural knowledge to improve their learning outcomes. This can require teachers and other authorities to relinquish the role of expert from time to time to hold space for students to approach learning challenges from their unique cultural perspective.
Curriculum: The Ontario curriculum outlines what students should know and be able to do at the end of each grade or course in a subject. It is used mainly by teachers and educators but is available to everyone.
Differentiated Instruction adapts a lesson plan to allow each student to learn best in their individual style. This may mean allowing some students to work in groups while others work alone. It may mean providing written instructions to some students and visual demonstrations to others. The goal of differentiated instruction is that each student is able to follow their own path to the learning goals. Rather than redirecting unique students to conforming learning methods, the focus is on finding a way for their learning style to integrate into the classroom.
Environmental accommodations are changes or supports in the physical environment of the classroom and/or the school.
Experiential Learning or Learning by doing - this way of learning is focused on taking action or doing the activity, practicing and reflecting on the activity to then refine their techniques.
Identification, Placement, and Review Committee (IPRC) is the group that meets, reviews and discusses information gathered about a student, to decide if a student should be identified as exceptional in accordance with the Ministry of Education categories of exceptionality.
Individual Education Plan (IEP) is a written plan created by the school to describe the special education programs and services that are to be provided to the student.
Instructional accommodations are adjustments in teaching strategies required to enable the student to learn and to progress through the curriculum .
Land Based learning is the passing on of knowledge from family, Elders and knowledge keepers. It means living in harmony with the environment, respecting animals, and taking only what you need. Land-based learning is the way that knowledge is transferred from one generation to the next.
Modifications change what a student is taught, and/or what they are expected to learn. Modified expectations may include changing the grade level, or changing the complexity of the grade level expectations.
Occupational Therapist (OT) is a trained professional who specializes in assessing and treating disabilities and delays in the areas of fine motor (cutting, holding a pencil or crayons, etc. ) and adaptive skills (getting dressed, sitting properly at a table/desk, etc. )
Ontario Student Record (OSR) details a student’s information and progress through school. It is confidential and can only be accessed by the Principal, school staff with permission, and the student and/or parent upon request.
Physical Therapist (PT) is a trained professional who specializes in assessing and treating disabilities/delays in the area of gross motor (walking, jumping, playing, etc.)
Special Education Advisory Committees (SEAC) are trustees and representatives of local associations that support exceptional children or adults. They provide advice on special education to their local school board and make recommendations for programs and services. Each school board must have a SEAC.
Special education programs are plans that contain the learning goals and the special education services required to meet the student’s needs.
Special education services refer to resources, equipment and support personnel. They are there to support the overall program and needs of the student.
Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) is a trained professional who specializes in assessing and treating speech and language disorders/delays including articulation (how a student pronounces words), communication (how they listen and respond to conversation or information), and swallowing (physical complications).
Universal Design: Simply put, universal design is good design.
A design is universal when it is able to be accessed without accommodation by a variety of people with different needs. Universal design can rarely accommodate 100% of the diverse needs of a community, but good universal design pushes the boundaries of design as far as possible without compromising the integrity or quality of the product.