In the United States, there were over 7.3 million students with disabilities in the national public school system as of the 2021 to 2022 school year. That means approximately 15% of all public school students live with a disability of some kind.
Bringing attention to these students helps improve the quality of their education and healthcare. And since July is Disability Pride Month, this is a great time to focus on celebrating, raising awareness, and boosting recognition of those with disabilities.
When disabilities come into the spotlight, it creates an opportunity for conversation. This increased awareness draws attention not only to disabilities and how they affect individuals but also to how inclusion in schools can affect students in the classroom.
How Disabilities Impact Students in School
Children with disabilities can face many different challenges in school, ranging from learning difficulties to physical challenges. In an effort to address these challenges, the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was put into place on November 29, 1975, to provide grants for several efforts, such as:
- Demonstrations
- Technical assistance
- Parent training
- Teacher training
- Special education and related services
- Research
IDEA was reauthorized in 2004 and amended through Public Law 114-95, known as the “Every Student Succeeds Act,” in 2015.
IDEA’s purpose is clear. It was designed to ensure all children living with disabilities have the same opportunity to seek appropriate public education that meets their needs and prepares them for employment, further education, or independent living. It also provides grants and assists states in implementing coordinated and comprehensive intervention services for infants and toddlers. Visit this page to read more about IDEA.
With IDEA in place, the hope is that most students won’t run into the common barriers those with disabilities may face, such as trouble with teachers not being trained to understand a disability or not having access to appropriate classroom environments. However, students still face a multitude of issues.
Common challenges students with disabilities face in school include:
- Problems with accessibility, such as a lack of wheelchair ramps or heavy doors that are difficult to open
- Discrimination or negative attitudes that lead to social isolation
- Limited representation in classroom materials
- Communication challenges (such as those due to hearing or speech impairments)
- Behavioral or emotional concerns, such as anxiety
- A lack of individualized education program (IEP) or 504 plans
There are steps that those who work with these students can take to ease these challenges. From encouraging IEPs to providing education on disabilities to the staff, every small change can make a big difference in the experiences of those with disabilities.
Who Works With Students With Disabilities?
While enrolled in school, students may need the support of several professionals. Those who commonly work with students with disabilities include:
- School nurses: School nurses help promote safe, healthy school environments and may assist students with disabilities who need care during the school day.
- Occupational therapists: Occupational therapists work with students to help them perform normal tasks of daily living. They can also provide adaptive equipment recommendations and teach techniques to aid students in class with memory or concentration.
- Speech-language pathologists: Speech-language pathologists work with students who have speech disorders. They help them develop methods of communication to help reduce isolation.
- Special education teachers: Special education teachers work with students who have a variety of disabilities, including those who are visually impaired or who have developmental disabilities.
- Paraprofessionals: Under the supervision of special education teachers and other professionals to implement individualized education plans (IEPs) and provide necessary support to ensure that students are able to access the curriculum and participate fully in the educational environment.
- Registered behavioral technicians: RBTs work with individuals or small groups of students and their families. They deal with learning and behavioral challenges and offer services under supervision.
- School psychologists: School psychologists are typically members of the school’s staff and help support the mental health needs of students.
These and other school professionals provide services to aid students so they can focus on their educations and have a better, safer learning environment overall.
5 Ways To Empower Students With Disabilities
There are several ways to empower students with disabilities in the classroom.
1. Using Evidence-Based Approaches To Support Students’ Needs
The first way to empower students is to ensure they have the support they need to be successful in the classroom. There should be three strategies implemented in each classroom:
- Universal strategies that apply to all students
- Intensive strategies that apply to individual students with specific, unique needs
- Targeted strategies that help students with additional needs
For example, a school nurse might collaborate with teachers and other school staff to ensure a student’s medical needs are met. This could also be educating students, families, and other staff about specific health conditions or disabilities, including how to recognize symptoms and respond in emergency situations.
2. Providing Behavioral and Mental Health Support
The social challenges of living with a disability can sometimes come to a head in classrooms. Having behavioral supports such as registered behavior technicians (RBTs) or school psychologists available to help students with behavioral and mental health concerns can ease the transition into a classroom environment or help them overcome social isolation and stigmas associated with their conditions.
3. Implementing the Correct Educational Plans
School professionals like special education teachers and paraprofessionals can collaborate with parents, administrators, and other professionals to create and implement the necessary accommodations, modifications, and support services needed for an individual student.
Students with disabilities may benefit from IEP, 504, or other educational plans. Regular check-ins can help determine if behavioral, learning, and social goals are being met and help measure success.
4. Investing in Education and Training
Investing in education and training for school professionals is imperative to help empower students with disabilities. Training is the first step in helping teachers and other staff members understand how to interact with students with disabilities. In addition to investing time into training, providing the appropriate resources to support teachers and other school professionals is a must.
5. Focusing on Inclusion
Finally, focusing on inclusion should be an active part of all programs involving children with disabilities. Teachers, school nurses, therapists, and other school staff can support these students while also working to foster an inclusive environment. They should speak to or about students in healthy, positive ways and avoid stereotyping any disability, which could lead to ostracizing a student in the classroom.
Jobs in Schools with SHC
At Supplemental Health Care, we believe that school nurses, speech-language pathologists, paraprofessionals, and other school professionals can make a difference in the experiences children with disabilities have in the classroom. Ready to find the perfect job in schools and work with this unique population? Check out our open job opportunities to learn more!
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