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A Special Education Adventure to Autonomy
I was that kid who couldn’t always focus well in class, and not mildly so, but in a way that interfered with my ability to blend in with society in a school setting. I would frequently miss instructions, not pick up on various learning cues and have difficulty processing many parts of concepts...
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Letting Go, Holding On: Life After Raising an Autistic Son
My war is mostly over, and I miss it terribly. Raising Billy, my son who has autism, was like going through a war, every day a battle. And now he is 33 and he is gone. Not completely gone -- he lives in a group home 10 miles away, and it only takes me 22 minutes to get there. But I no longer...
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Autism Rights, Wrongs, and Acceptance: A Two-Way Street
Though I was diagnosed autistic as an infant, I was unaware I was different until second grade, when I was shuffled between special and regular education classes, when I decided, mostly on my own, that I would transition to mainstream school. While I was a great student throughout my scholastic...
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A Roadmap to Wellness
“John” is a person with autism. And he was driven by a goal. John wanted to learn to drive a car, get his license, and have a greater level of independence in his life. For John, this was critical to his emotional wellness. Many had told John that driving would never be an option. But...
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Overcoming Barriers in Math Education and Assessment for Autistic Children
In the 21st century, there is no disagreement that a math education is considered important for all students, including those with disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), so that their access and success contribute to the development of skills necessary for an independent life. Good...
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The Power and Potential of the IEP
To address the inequity of limiting special needs children from obtaining an appropriate public education, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) was implemented in 1975 across the United States school systems. The IEP is an educational road map for children with disabilities. It is required by...
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A Call for Reform of the Least Restrictive Environment
Section 1412(a)(5) of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) outlines regulations regarding the least restrictive environment (LRE). The statute states: To the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities, including children in public or private institutions or other care...
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Autism Around the World: An Interview with a First Lady with a Degree in Special Education and “Autism Belize”
She doesn’t flinch… “We need money! We need a lot of money. We need a lot of training, and it costs a lot of money…We’re not lost. We’re not this little country that has our heads in the sand. Every time somebody suggests to me ‘Let’s have a Special Education summit!’ It upsets...
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The “Why” of Disability Unemployment
Understanding the differential in the employment rates for people with disabilities and those without, including the length of time it has remained unchanged, requires an introspection into all the current practices and models. It also begs the question of “why” this has remained for so long...
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Robot-Assisted Instruction for Children with Autism: How Can Robots Be Used in Special Education?
In today’s high-tech world, quality teaching in special education is an essential factor that many specialists need to fulfill. Special education teachers are well-trained and often receive the latest skills and resources to provide effective intervention for children with autism. However, high...
