Morah Mary Consulting

Including Students with Special Needs

Students who have special needs – and their families – often present unique challenges for supplemental school educators. Our belief that all are b’tzelem elohim (created in the image of God) requires us to actively search for ways in which we can meet the needs of students who learn differently. Some solutions that will reap great benefits for the entire community include the following:

• Establish partnerships with parents to work towards a mutual goal
• Work with teachers to modify learning programs, structures and/or materials
• Identify classroom strategies that typically work for struggling students
• Train staff in differentiated, age-appropriate education
• Empower students to be actively involved in their learning and/or behavior
    plans
• Communicate the benefits of inclusion of all students – especially to families
    without children with special needs
• Provide a safe environment in which all can learn: students, staff, and
    parents.

Professional Development on the topic of inclusion is critical for teachers and madrichim. The workshop "Make Him Beautiful Again" is based on a Rick Lavoie video, Beyond F.A.T. City. The title comes from a quote by a student's uncle, who told Rick that Rick's staff had given back to his nephew's family the same beautiful, curious person the nephew had been before the impact of his learning disabilities had caused him to become suspicious of learning situations. The uncle thanked Rick for his intervention and said, "You helped make him beautiful again."

A quick synopsis of a wide variety of learning disabilities and/or neurological spectrum disorders can be helpful for your staff to have. Many times, teachers feel overwhelmed when they are asked to accommodate the needs of specific students. However, there are some individual accommodations which can be effective for students with a variety of needs. A chart of classroom accommodations can provide teachers with a visual reminder of which students can benefit from which accommodations.

For additional suggestions on how to integrate students into your program, click on this wonderful article by Rabbi Steven H. Rau and Stacey Levy from The Temple, in Atlanta, Georgia: http://www.behrmanhouse.com/fortheed/itc/inclusive.shtml
It's located on the Behrman House website, in the section entitled "For the Educator." Thanks to Rabbi Rau, Ms. Levy and Behrman House for permission to link this site. I know you'll find it beneficial.

If you are struggling to integrate your students with special needs/disabilities fully into your program, Morah Mary Consulting can help you work towards solutions.

For more information, contact Mary@MorahMaryConsulting.com

Morah Mary Consulting, LLC
Mary F. Meyerson© 2007
240-888-8770

Updated May 18, 2008

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