WHAT IS SPECIAL EDUCATION?Teacher Dodie M. de CastroAlabang Elementary School SPED Center

What is Special Education?Special education defines as individually planned, systematically implemented, and carefully evaluated instruction to help exceptional children achieve the greatest possible self-sufficiency and success in present and future environments (Heward, 2003)Special education refers to a range of educational and social services provided by the public school system and other educational institutions to individuals with disabilities who are between three and 21 years of age. (answers.com)

Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials, accessible settings, and other interventions designed to help learners with special needs achieve a higher level of personal self-sufficiency and success in school and community than would be available if the student were only given access to a typical classroom education. (wikipedia)

Special Education (cont.)

What is the Difference between General Education and Special Education?General education and special education are two educational approaches that are not the same. They differ along some very important dimensions.

General Education andSpecial Education (cont.)First, special education and general education are designed for students with different learning, behavioral, social, communication, and basic functional needs (such as daily living skills).Second, some differences are based in law. Third, general education tends to focus on group of learners, wheras the special education approach focuses on individuals. (Teaching Students with Special Needs in Inclusive Classrooms p.23)

There are four points of view aboutSpecial Education (Heward, 2003)

Special education is legislatively governed enterpriseArticle IV, Section 1 and Section 5, Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution gurantee that the State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education available to all.R.A. 7277 The Magna Carta for Disabled Persons provides for the rehabilitation, self-development and self-reliance of disabled persons and their integration into mainstream society.

There are four points of view aboutSpecial Education (cont.)

Special education is legislatively governed enterprise (cont.)The Philippine Policies and Guidelines for Special Education provides that every child with special needs has a right to an educational program that is suitable to his/her needs. Special education shares with regular education basic responsibilities of the educational system to fulfill the right of the child to develop his/her potential.There are many other laws, memoranda and circulars that have been enacted through the years in support of special education.

There are four points of view aboutSpecial Education (cont.2)

Special education is a part of the countrys educational system. With its modest historical beginning in 1907, special education is now a major part of the basic education program in elementary and secondary schools.Special education is teaching children with special needs in the least restrictive environment.WHO: The exceptional children or the children and youth with special needs are the most important persons in special education.WHAT: Every exceptional child needs access to a differentiated and modified curricular progam to enable him/her to learn the skills and competencies in the basic education curriculum.

There are four points of view aboutSpecial Education (cont.3)

HOW: Children with mental retardation are taught adaptive skills and basic academic content that are suitable to their mental ability. Gifted children are provided with enrichment activities and advanced content knowledge so that they can learn more than what the basic education curriculum offers. Most of them are in acceleraed classes where they finish elementary education in five years instead of six. Children who are blind learn braille and orientation and mobility or travel techniques. Children who deaf learn sign language and speech reading. WHERE: There are several educational placements for these children. The most prefered in inclusive education where they are mainstreamed in regular classes. Other types of educational placements are special school, residential schools, self-contained classes, home bound and hospital instruction.

There are four points of view aboutSpecial Education (cont.4)

Special Education is purposeful interventionIntervention prevents, eliminates and/or overcomes the obstacles that might keep an individual with disabilities from learning, from full and active participation in school activities, and from engaging in social and leisure activities.

There are four points of view aboutSpecial Education (cont.5)

Special Education is purposeful intervention (cont.)Preventive intervention is designed to keep potential or minor problems from becoming a disabilty. Primary prevention is designed to eliminate or counteract risk factors so that a disability is not acquired.Secondary intervention is aimed at reducing or eliminating the effects of existing risk factors.Tertiary prevention is intended to minimize the impact of a specific condition or disability among those with disabilities.Remedial intervention attempts to eliminate the effects of disability.

History of Special Education in the PhilippinesHistorically, the interest to educate Filipino children with disabilities was expressed more than a century ago in 1902 during the American regime.

History of Special Education in the Philippines (cont.)The General Superintendent of Education, Mr. Fred Atkinson, reported to the Secretary of Public Instruction that deaf and blind children were found in a census of school-aged children in Manila and nearby provinces. He proposed that these children be enrolled in school like the other children.

History of Special Education in the Philippines (cont. 2)However, it was not until 1907 when special education program formally started in the country.

History of Special Education in the Philippines (cont. 3)The Director of Public Education, Mr. David Barrows, worked for the establishment of the Insular School for the Deaf and the Blind in Manila. Miss Delight Rice, an American educator, was the first administrator and teacher of the special school.

History of Special Education in the Philippines (cont. 4)At present the school for the Deaf is located on Harrison Street, Pasay City while the Philippine National School for the Blind is adjacent to it on Polo Road.

History of Special Education in the Philippines (cont. 5)1926 1949In 1926, The Philippine Association for the Deaf (PAD).In 1927, the government established the Welfare Childrens Village in Mandaluyong, Rizal.In 1936, Mrs. Maria Villa Francisco was appointed as the first principal of the School for the Deaf and the Blind (SDB).In 1945, the National Orthopedic Hospital opened its School for Crippled Children (NOHHSCC) for young patient who had to be hospitalized for long periods of time. In 1949, the Quezon City Science High School for gifted students was inaugurated. In the same year, the Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled (PFRD) was organized.

History of Special Education in the Philippines (cont. 6)1950 1975The Elsie Gaches Village (EGV) was established in 1953 in Alabang, Muntinlupa, Rizal to take care of abandoned and orphaned children and youth with physical and mental handicaps.The Private sector supported the govenments program for disabled Filipinos. In 1955, members of Lodge No. 761 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks organized the Elks Cerebral Palsy Project Incorporated.

History of Special Education in the Philippines (cont. 7)1950 1975 (cont.)In 1957, the Bureau of Public Schools (BPS) of the Department of Education and Culture (DEC) created the Special Education Section of the Special Subjects and Sevices Division. It provided the development of special education in all regions of the country. The components of the special education program included legislation, teacher training, census of exceptional children and youth in schools and the community, the integration of children with disabilities in regular classes, rehabilitation of residential and special schools and materials production. Baguio Vacation Normal School ran courses on teaching children with handicaps. The Baguio City Special Education Center was oraganized in the same year.

History of Special Education in the Philippines (cont. 8)1976-2000In 1976, Proclamation 1605 declared 1977 to 1987 as the Decade of the Filipino Child. The National Action Plan for Education was promulgated which included provisions for in and out of school exceptional children. In the same year, the Camp Pagibig, a day camp for handicapped children was held on Valentines Day in Balara, Quezon City. Meanwhile, the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in Quezon City organized the Molave Youth Hall for Children with Behavior Problems In 1977, MEC issued Department Order No. 10 that designated regional and division supervisors of special education programs.

History of Special Education in the Philippines(cont. 8)1976-2000 (cont.2)The year 1978 marked the creation fo the National Commission Concerning Disabled Personss of NCWDP through Presidential Decree 1509. MEC Memorandum No. 285 directed school divisions to organize special classes with a set of guidelines on the designation of teachers who have no formal training in special education.In the same year, the University of the Philippines opened its special education teacher training program for undergraduate students.

Vision for Children with Special NeedsThe state, community and family hold a common vision for the Filipino child with special needs. By the 21st century, it is envisioned that he/she could be adequately provided with basic education. The education should fully realize his/her own potentials for development and productivity as well as being capable of self-expression of his/her rights in society. More importantly, he/she is God-loving and proud of being a Filipino.

Policy, Goal and Objectives of Special Education

PolicyThe policy on Inclusive Education for all is adopted in the Philippines to accelerate access to education among children and youth with special needs. Inclusive education forms an integral component of the overall educational system that is committed to an appropriate education for all children and youth with special needs.

Goal The goal of the special education program of the Department of Education all over the country is to provide children with special needs appropriate educational services within the mainstream of basic education. It includes the development on legislation, human resource development, family involvement and active participation of government and non-government organizations.

ObjectivesProvide a flexible and individualized support system for children and youth with special needs in a regular class environment in school nearest the students home.Provide support services, vocational programs and work training, employment oppurtunities for efficient community participation and independent living.Implement a life-long curriculum to include early intervention and parent education, basic education and transition programs on vocational training or preparation for college.

Objectives (cont.)Make available an array of educational programs and services: the Special Education Center built on a school within a school concept as the resource center for children and youth with special needs; inclusive education in regular schools, special and residential schools, homebound instruction, hospital instruction and community-based programs; alternative modes of service delivery to reach the disadvantaged children in far-flung towns, depressed areas and underserved barangays.