Special Topic

I have friend named P we have known each other for two years now.  P has Cerebral Palsy and has completed his education.  I interviewed P and one parent about P's education.  We discussed the lingering feelings about how P was educated, both good and bad.

The following are answers to the specific questions  I asked.  At the end of the questionair is a list of goals we as pre-service teachers should keep in mind when when we are teaching.

What aspects of P's Education did you like the most?

P’s first six years of school were in private alternative schools in Toronto in a fully integrated classroom. This allowed interaction between P and the other students and was very successful.

The peers discovered P’s ability to recognize different colours and spelling. A positive social network developed between both P and peers this lead to positive social opportunities and acceptance in the classroom.

This was a good social learning environment.
 
 

What aspects of P’s education did you like the least?

P had difficulties in the school environment after moving to Vancouver. The VSB placed P in a non-verbal integrated classroom.

In this environment P developed many antisocial behaviours such as:

hand biting

yelling

banging his head

P was placed in a corner of the room unattended. The only time attention was given was during behaviours. P was bored, un-stimulated and was given a very negative experience due to the learning environment.
 
 

What upset and frustrated you the most?

•  Being left behind on extra curricular activities such as skiing,
               which could have been facilitated.
 
• Shoes were often on the wrong feet when he arrived home

• The school thought he had a nutritional problem because due to falling asleep in class - it was boredom
• Same assignments and worksheets every year
 
What surprised you the most (good/bad)?
 
The saving grace was other students and teacher aids

Teachers who taught to P’s capabilities not disabilities
 

What would you change?
 
The VSB policies dealing with special needs students

A better learning approach adopted to each student’s needs

A more creative learning environment - for all students


What would you like pre-service teachers to know?

Get to know the student and tap into their abilities

Just because a student has special needs it does not mean they are not capable of learning

Special Needs student can allow for more real and positive learning environment in which future generations of society can learn positive social experiences and awareness.

What materials should be used in the classroom?

Teachers often only use one method of teaching. Teachers should adapt their lessons to each student. By using a combination approach to teaching a class you will reach more students.

Make your classes more project and less worksheet orientated
 
 

Our Goal as a pre-service teachers is to:

Be aware of the technology the students will be using.

Every student we, as teachers, will come into contact with Cerebral Palsy be unique.  Because of the individualization of Cerebral palsy the technological aids they may be using will also vary.  At first these forms of technology may seem to be very overwhelming.  These technologies may be:

•     Very low tech (colour coded communication systems)
•     Intermediate tech (head and hand switches)
•     Extremely high tech (eye scanning computer systems).


Expect a system of sorts to accompany the student.  If a student is using a lower form of technology you may wish to contact a source such as Tetra or the BC Tel Pioneers for low cost (even free) assistance in developing a special piece of technology for the student for use in the classroom and home use.

 Become familiar and comfortable with the technology

•   Ask the student/aid to show you how the technology works.

• Work with the technology
Get a feel for the technology and how the student is using it.
This will give you insight on how the student hs to process the information you are giving out and the steps they have to go through to respond

•         Discover what your student is capable of and expand


Even the most simplistic movement is a place to start.  Be creative.  Even if the student has free controlled movement of one finger it is possible to play it up for all its glory

 
A student who only had control of her right hand and lateral wrist movement was able to program her own computer and voice recognition machine so the audio tapes of the teacher's lectures could be typed up and stored for future study on her home computer.

•         Form a co-operative with the family to
                support the student

The family is your best resource.   Generally they know the threshold of the students ability.   Some parents may not want ot push the student for a variety of reasons, but generally parents want their child to achieve all they can.
 

• Where is the best place in the classroom for the child to sit
       (back, middle, left, right, front)
        All of these may affect the comfort level of the student
        and their ability to participate in class.
 
• What are the students interests at home
        Can these be brought into the classroom
         and used as a class project?

    There are many resources available to you as teacher.  When you enter into the school check them out.  If you need more assistance there are many external resources available to you.

You are the only person who can judge how comfortable and prepared you will feel when working with your various students.  Some students will require more background information for you to reach a level of comfort.  This help is available and the internet is a great place to start.  Many local associations are on the net.

link to index