Teaching Cases for Special Education Essay
Dad Knows Best1. What is the real concern? What do you think Jake is at risk for?As a special education needs teacher, Linda notices that Jake has been behaving differently. He has lagged behind in schoolwork, told a morbid confession, and made a disturbing sketch from his own blood. Linda is alarmed and wants to seek the advice of the principal. However, the principal and the crisis intervention team were not able to provide her with options. Linda needs to reach out to Jake’s father to get professional help for his son.
Children living with alcoholic parents tend to have cognitive, emotional and behavioral problems (as cited in National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 1990). Considering the drugs and previous treatment he has gone through, Jake needs more specialized care. With Jake’s aggressive tendencies, he is at risk of physically harming others or himself. A link has been established that as more children with EBD are untreated, the more likely that these children end up in prison sooner or later (Gunter and Kizzire, 2008). Pertinent data shows that unresolved or unattended violent tendencies in childhood result to juvenile crimes.2.
Does the father have the legal right to make the decision he did?Mr. Ramirez wanted to raise his son normally. At some point, he may have felt like a freak when he was under treatment for alcoholism. He did not want that to happen to Jake. Understanding the side effects of the drugs Jake was taking, he was aware that while Jake was being medicated, some physical and emotional capacities will be affected, and the changes may not be temporary.3. What would you have advised Linda to say or do? Is there anything that Linda could have done differently to help the situation?Linda has valid experience in the field.
However, she needs to educate and increase the level of awareness of different stakeholders: co-educators, school administration, students and, most importantly, parents. She may find records of juvenile delinquencies, pre and post treatment reports of some EBD children helpful. However, EBD are special cases to be dealt with individually. It should be stressed that every patient has unique and different cases.Linda can ask help from other experts in her field and in psychiatry. They may need to explain to Mr.
Ramirez the consequences of changes in Jake’s behavior and performance in school. They can also explain and validate why Jake was previously given medications. Zolof is used to treat patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, while Mellaril is a powerful drug used to combat schizophrenia. Jake may have been exposed to several factors that lead to these circumstances.
A thorough knowledge of his history will help Linda pursue her intentions of helping Jake.Initially, Linda can increase their awareness by giving a brief background on EBD in general: history, possible causes and consequences, current interventions and other related information. Then give introductory backgrounder on the cases of a particular EBD case before going through a particular EBD student’s detail. Every EBD child has a unique special need.
Stuck In the Middle1. What are Christine’s ethical responsibilities regarding Katy’s accommodations in her class?As her student, Christine is responsible for Katy’s enrichment and growth. Katy is entitled to the benefits of IDEA and the No Child Left Behind Act (Friend, 2007). She is even more pressed to fulfill her duty as a teacher to provide necessary assistance to Katy (and Carlos). However, she may lack the special training and aide to get on with her duty as a teacher; it is well within Christine’s duty to coordinate with school administration regarding the placement of Katy’s aide. The school has to be reminded that they have agreed with Katy’s parents at the start of the year and the Alverezes can sue them for inappropriately directing Ms Butler, keeping her from her primary duty of assisting Katy (Friend, 2007).2. What is the school’s legal responsibility regarding obtaining assistive devices or accommodations listed in a student’s IEP?Katy needs special education.
It is the government’s mandate that no one is left behind, thus, the developments for special education. Studies show that many children, whose special needs were not met accordingly, tend to have violent tendencies and often wind up in prison (Gunter and Kizzire, 2008). Other children do not perform as well in school and later in life because their special needs were not attended to during childhood when their recovery chances were still high.With the intervention of assistive technology, a series of consultations, evaluations and validations are undergone to determine whether a student needs it and whether this specific technology will improve the student’s performance. Upon validation, the school is legally compelled to provide the necessary assistance to accommodate the IEP of the student with special needs (Friend, 2007).3.
Why do you think that the Alvarezes succeeded in getting the aide and the computer listed in Katy’s IEP?The IEP is a product of several consultations with education professionals. If the assistive technologies were approved, then the parents have a legal right to pursue them for Katy’s needs (Friend, 2007). Despite the intricate paperwork involved, the Alvarezes know their rights well and are willing to pursue their intentions for Katy.4.
What do you think that Christine should do? Why?Christine must first coordinate with the school administration regarding the accommodations the school has agreed to and is liable for in attending to the needs of Katy. With regards to children with special needs, parents should coordinate with school administration as to the special needs of their child, taking note of extreme case scenarios to prepare for. The school is the children’s second home. It is best that both parents and school administration communicate to make the children feel safe and secure in school. As Katy’s GE teacher and trusted authority in school, Christine has to make adjustments to be able to accommodate Katy and Carlos’ needs because they are part of her class now. She is responsible for their development and growth. Perhaps, the school administration has to be reminded of the legal and ethical implications of their actions.References:“Dad Knows Best”.
(n.d.). The Clearing House for Special Education Teaching Cases.
University of Southern California. Retrieved 11-19-2008 from http://cases.coedu.usf.edu/TCases/dad.
htmFriend, M. (2007). Special Education: Contemporary Perspectives for School Professionals, 2nd edition. Pearson.Gunter, B. and J. Kizzire.
(2008). Breaking the School-to-Prison Pipeline. AlterNet: Rights & Liberties. Retrieved 11-19-2008 from http://www.alternet.org/rights/75533/?page=entireNational Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism. (1990).
Children of Alcoholics: Are They Different, Alcohol Alert No. 9, PH 288.“Stuck In the Middle.” (n.
d.). The Clearing House for Special Education Teaching Cases. University of Southern California. Retrieved 11-19-2008 from http://cases.coedu.usf.edu/TCases/StuckMiddle.htm
