Special Education Teachers Are Part Of The Assessment 914438

Special Education Teachers Are Part Of The Assessment Team That Determ

Special education teachers are part of the assessment team that determines eligibility for special education services. There are 14 major eligibility categories defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Special educators must have general knowledge of the guidelines for eligibility, the characteristics, causes, and effects on learning, and how often the disabilities occur within a defined population in order to contribute to team collaboration and consult articulately with staff and parents. Use the “IDEA Disability Category Comparison Template” to outline information for the categories of disability under IDEA. The first category, Autism, is completed for you. APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.

Paper For Above instruction

The role of special education teachers within the assessment team is pivotal in accurately determining students' eligibility for special education services under the IDEA. Their expertise not only supports the identification process but also ensures that students receive appropriate interventions tailored to their needs. This paper explores the 14 disability categories under IDEA, beginning with Autism as a sample category, and provides a comprehensive comparison to understand the characteristics, causes, prevalence, and educational implications of each.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) serves as the starting point in understanding these categories. Autism is characterized by challenges in social communication and interaction, along with restricted or repetitive behaviors (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The causes of autism are multifaceted, involving genetic and environmental factors, although specific causes remain largely unknown. The prevalence of autism has increased in recent decades, with current estimates suggesting that approximately 1 in 54 children in the United States is diagnosed with ASD (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020). Educationally, students with autism often require structured environments, visual supports, and tailored communication strategies.

Expanding beyond autism, the other IDEA categories include specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, intellectual disability, emotional disturbance, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, traumatic brain injury, gi...