Attitude, Legislation, and Litigation Essay

In the past the Special Education has overcome some challenges and length. The laws and rules made it potential for all special needs to have an education and to be treated fairly like everyone else. The special needs are human beings just like any other person and they need to have the same opportunities and equality in today’s society. Attitude Over the years the attitude towards the intellectual disabilities has been poorly repulsive and prejudice. Connecticut 1650 code was a law where the special needs get sterilization and can no longer reproduce. Hitler also eradicated the special needs, because he saw them as being weak to his supreme race. The people were afraid of the special needs because they did not fit into the normal society. In the coming years the attitudes slowly change and special needs are becoming more accepted into society. The laws and rules will soon open up people minds and eyes to change their attitude towards the special needs. â€Å"Furthermore, the stigma and discrimination commonly experienced by individuals with intellectual disability are not only a barrier to effective integration but also result in reduced self-esteem and feelings of isolation† (Ouellette-Kuntz, Burge, Brown, Arsenault, 2010, pg. 132). Legislation and Litigation Litigation has made a huge impact on the Special Education. The IDEA and the NCLB has changed the education for the special needs to allow the students into the school to learn and have the same education values as other students. The special needs students were not permitted to go to school and people were afraid of them or they might get the same disabilities of what they had. The Legislation brought up laws to protect the special needs and  to have them to go to school along with the general education. The Legislation also ensures the NCLB that all the students and teachers meet their requirement goals and given assessments for students for their grade levels. The IEP (Individualized Education Plan) benefit the teachers to keep track or their students’ progress and contains information on how well they are learning. â€Å"It is critical that IEP teams carefully consider the implications of choosing an alternative assessment as it may lead to an alternative diploma or certificate and may influence the kinds of jobs and postsecondary options available to the student† (Bowen, Rude, 2005, pg.27). Legislation made a wave for the Special Education and continues to put new laws in to the school systems to provide resources and materials for the students who have disabilities. Challenges There are some challenges that the educators are facing, where they have to make sure their students are passing and they have to follow the NCLB act. The resources and funds are being cut in the education departments and it is making it uneasy for the special needs those essential materials in order to learn. In some school district it is affecting their students to progress and the teacher’s accountability to provide the materials to the lesson plans. The teachers are facing hard times if their students are not passing because of budget cuts and spending. Predictions Student with disabilities are still being encourage to believe that there is still expectation for them to succeed. Students with mild disabilities are in the regular education classroom and learning the same materials other students are learning. In the future Special Education will thrive for the best, because there will be more voices and concern for the privileges of educations. The students will also be allow to have more choices for their education and hopefully the budget and spending will be prosperous for more resources and supplies to give out to the Special needs. Personal Encounter My first encounter with a person with disabilities, I was thinking â€Å"What happen to them, or why do they behave like that?† I would think will that ever happen to me? I also spectacle why do they attend the same school I go to. I started to run out of questions and answer and that’s when I asked my  mother who is a Special Education teacher and she told me â€Å"People with disabilities have the same equal rights and opportunities as other people do and they are human beings just like us.† That day on I change my who perspective view on people with disabilities. Conclusion The Special Education teachers are willing to take on challenges and roles to support their students to achieve. The laws and regulation are pushing it ways through the doors and allowing benefits, and educational plans for the special needs. The parents, teachers, and communities are the voices that will provide better treatment and exceptional tools to better the educational needs for the students. References Ouellette-Kuntz, H., Burge, P., Brown, H. K., & Arsenault, E. (2010). Public Attitudes Towards Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities as Measured by the Concept of Social Distance. Journal Of Applied Research In Intellectual Disabilities, 23(2), 132-142. doi:10.1111/j.1468-3148.2009.00514.x Bowen, S. K., & Rude, H. A. (2006). Assessment and Students with Disabilities: Issues and Challenges with Educational Reform. Rural Special Education Quarterly, 25(3), 24-30.