What do we learn from listening to the voices of those with disabilities?

What do we learn from listening to the voices of those with disabilities?

1. How they feel about their education

   • They care about their education (NBC 2011)
     • Teachers should ask Questions
       • Do you understand?
       • Do you need more time?
       • Would you like me to go through it again?
     • A support group should be available (Department of Education and Training 2015)
       • Group Includes:
         • Teacher/s
         • Parent/Guardian
         • The student
         • Student wellbeing officer
       • Identifies students educational needs
       • Develop a Personalised Learning and Support Plan
       • Curriculum adjustments
       • Re-evaluate and review program once per term

2. How their disability affects them in everyday life

   • Which adaptive behaviours does the child with mild intellectual disability show deficit in? (IDRS Inc. 2009)
     • Communication
     • Self care
     • Home Living
     • Social Skills
     • Self Direction
     • Lesiure and Work
     • Learning
   • Teachers should observe the student in:
     • he Playground
     • The classroom
     • Group Activites
     • Sporting activites
     • Social Settings
   • Teachers should create strategies to help in areas they see struggle in (Evely and Ganim 2011)
     • Buddy system for group work
     • Give extra time to complete tasks and tests.
     • Provide concrete aids, digital objects and manipulatives, drawings, diagrams and mathematical tools to support new learning or the completion of the task.
     • Assign a smaller workload.
     • Break tasks into manageable chunks

3. Areas of particular interest to the student

   • The student will benefit from special training in areas of interest (American Academy of Paediatrics 2015)
     • Music (Phillips 2014)
       • Allows creativity
       • Provides enjoyment
       • Development of brain areas involved in language and reasoning
       • Enhances teamwork skills
       • Provides a means of self expression
     • Makes the student feel accomplished/gifted and talented