Abstract This paper argues that mainstreaming handicappedchildren is appropriate and beneficial to all students. The paper also examines existing literature on the topic in order to determine the most effective method of mainstreaming as well as how to improve upon the process.
From the Paper "In education, the practice of teaching mentally or emotionally handicapped children in regular classrooms with non-handicapped children is known as mainstreaming. There has been an increasing interest in this practice since the 1960s due to numerous factors. For example, recent research shows that many handicapped students learned better in regular than in special classes. In addition, there have been charges that racial imbalances existed in special education classes. The federal Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, which states that all handicapped children have the right to a "free and appropriate" education in the ?least restrictive environment,? has been frequently interpreted as supporting the expansion of mainstreaming (Columbia University Press, 2003)."
Abstract This paper explains that the Education for All Handicapped Act of 1975 gives children with disabilities the right to special education by directing funds to states and local districts for the education program of disabled children. The author points out that the core of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the Individualized Educational Program (IEP), a contractual agreement, which is specifically designed for each disabled student. The paper relates that the least-restrictive-environment mandate states that children with disabilities have the right to be educated in a regular educational environment without discrimination.
Table of Contents
IDEA and IEP
Developing IEP
Programs for Special and Gifted Children Programs for the Physically HandicappedChildren Programs for Mentally and Behaviorally HandicappedChildren Programs for Children with Health Problems
Right to Regular Educational Environment
Conclusion
From the Paper "This covers children with physical disabilities such as visual, hearing, and orthopedic impairments. Such children may be permitted to attend education in their respective residence, or in separate classes. If attending in a regular class, special assistance and supervision must be provided. Some of the provisions that physically handicapped students may need are instruction in Braille for the blinds; large books, proper lighting, audible instructions, use of sign language, and speech workshops for the deaf; physical therapist for the orthopedic disabled. Special environment characteristics may also be needed such as the presence of ramps and wide doorways for wheelchairs, or the presence of appropriate handles to assist them (for instance, in toilets and stairs)."
Abstract A paper which identifies the stress placed on families of children with Down's Syndrome. It identifies the stressors specifically identified with having a Down's Syndrome child in contrast to the normal stresses associated with parenting a normal child. The study determines whether the parents of Down's Syndrome children experience greater levels, more frequent or more chronic stress symptoms than parents of normal children. The study examines the effects of poverty on both the parents of normal and Down's Syndrome Children. The study examines the effects that these stresses are likely to have on the family and outcomes of the handicapped child. It focuses on the stresses associated with families of low socio-economic status who have Down's Syndrome children. The author offers suggestions as to the types of programs, which may be helpful to improving the outcomes for both the children and their families. It offers suggestions as to how to help these families gain better access to education and services tailored to their specific needs.
From the Paper "Many factors have been shown to affect the ability of the family to adapt to changes and stress, such as the birth of a handicapped child. Research by Flaherty (2000) investigated adjustment in mothers and fathers rearing children with Down's syndrome. He compared families who had a Down's syndrome child by birth with families who had knowingly adopted a child with Down's syndrome. He surmised that the families who adopted children with Down's Syndrome were more likely to be well-adjusted. Actual results, however, demonstrated that birth mothers and fathers were functioning quite similarly to adoptive mothers and fathers on the outcome variables. Overall, birth as well as adoptive families appeared to be adjusting well to the challenges of rearing a child with Down syndrome. (Flaherty, 2000). This study would lead us to believe that stresses are the same whether the situation was a surprise or expected."
Abstract This research paper analyzes the specific challenges educators face when teaching bilingual children with special education needs. Specifically, it attempts to address whether early intervention for at-risk bilingual children with disabilities and other handicaps or other specific tools and academic strategies will improve learning outcomes. The paper also provides statistics on the unique challenges educators must address when working with special education bilingual students.
Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
Problem Statement
Background
Preliminary Literature Review
Methods
Theoretical Framework & Data Collection
From the Paper "Amato & Baca (1989) note that throughout history bilingual education has shifted multiple times, from "nonbiased native-language assessments" to specific services directly related to a student's special needs and bilingual ability (168). Many consider the field of bilingual special education one that is emerging and growing. Baca & Cervantes (1989) note a need for a bilingual special education "interface" exists that incorporates training for special education students and teachers (168). Amato & Baca (1989) observe that certain teacher competencies are clearly necessary for bilingual special education teachers, competencies that must be more clearly defined. Neuman & Roskos (1997) and other researchers including Gonzalez-Bueno (2003) suggest promoting literacy among bilingual special education students should be a primary concern for educators. They suggest use of a bilingual alphabet will help facilitate this process."
This paper discusses Public Law 94-142 (Education for All HandicappedChildren Act): mainstreaming, assessment, training of personnel, provisions of PL 94-142 and implementation.
1,575 words (approx. 6.3 pages), 6 sources, 1990, $ 55.95
From the Paper "The needs of special children with problems in development and learning is an issue gaining increased awareness among educators. A number of factors have contributed to this growing recognition of the need for evaluation and treatment services in educational as well as rehabilitative settings. One of these factors is a variety of advocacy efforts and legal actions taken by parents on behalf of special children. A second factor, which has grown out of such legal actions, has been the enactment of legislative bills by state and federal governments. Of these, the passage of Public Law 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, in 1975 represents the most comprehensive acknowledgement of the educational rights of special children.
PL 94-142 is an education law which guarantees educational ... "
Abstract This paper discusses how to integrate physically disabled children into a normal school setting through specially designed programs and the definate advantages of this integration. It evaluates how children interacting with their other normal peers and growing up in a normal setting show their optimal level of performance and sometimes surpass their normal peers to a level that helps to confidently face the real life situation later in life. It also shows how children without disabilities can realize their abilities in this situation and learn to treat disabled children with respect.
From the Paper "Another important aspect, which is necessary for the successful integration of disabled children in a normal school environment, is the attitude of the teacher. The teacher is a key to success for a child with disabilities. The attitude and abilities of the teacher to help out the disabled students plays a significant role in defining the success of the special education programs. If the teacher is able to create a sense of love and affection among the disabled children, they are likely to follow his or her instructions and therefore their performance will improve."
Abstract The paper deals at length with the problem of homeless persons and states that while the homeless population is increasing steadily, the number of children amongst this population has seen the steepest incline. The paper reports that the Institute for Children and Poverty has shown that nearly millions of adolescents are experiencing homelessness. This staggering number means that nearly 2% of all children and approximately 10% of all poor children in America are presently homeless. The paper deals extensively with the problem of educating homeless children by exploring the strategies and tactics put forward by the McKinney-Vento Act in educating homeless children.
Outline:
Introduction
Background of the Study
Current Issues in Government Policies
Statement of the Problem
Significance of the Study
Purpose of the Study
Research Questions
Methodology
Research Method and Design
Data Collection
Data Evaluation
Definitions of Homelessness and Problems Associated with the Definition
The Educational Rights of Homeless Children Strategies Implemented
Conclusion and Discussion
From the Paper "As mentioned above, during the 1970's the streets of America, during the night, were increasingly being occupied by adults and children alike for spending their nights. This phenomenon was exposed by the media and the social advocates along with the policy makers chipped in to being a social change particularly in the education sector. However, research shows that more people, particularly families with small children, are homeless today than they were in the 1970's and the number is steeply rising (Hafetz, 2003). Burt (2001) argued that the while the country progressed economically all through the 1990's, the trickle down affect of this progress could not be seen. In fact, on the contrary, the housing industry got more pressure, which resulted in the increased rents and lack of affordable housing (Burt, 2001). Therefore, homelessness has once again got the front page attention from the media. "
Abstract This paper is an overview and analysis of the launching of Children's Advil to the general public in the United States. It includes a situation analysis covering company, product, price, place promotion, current environment. It goes into extensive detail about the pain relief market in general, and includes extensive statistics about both the adult and children's markets. It includes a media campaign, and details all of the media options available, with their rankings in order to insure the greatest possible success in the launching of this new product.
From the paper:
"Although the analgesics market is very competitive, the positive market trends, as well as the fact that manufacturers with well-established brands are spending a great deal to educate consumers and pharmacists about the benefits of their products, foretell a painless future for retailers and shoppers alike. In liquids, three of the top five brands are aimed at the children's market. It was these brands that contributed the bulk of the growth in the segment, such as Children's Motrin and Children's Advil, which grew business in drug 8.4 percent and 16.3 percent, respectively. In addition, Pediacare Fever increased sales by roughly 104 percent in the drug channel."
Abstract A discussion of the negative and fewer positive effects that television has on children and their language skills. Several propositions seem undisputed by all the researchers such as: children are the largest audience for television, television is a continuing interest for most children, and television can provoke a response in children. This paper concludes that television can invigorate the vocabulary of children, encourage their reading, and inspire their writing.
From the Paper "Without doubt, television influences the mental processes and speaking habits of young people who may develop their language skills in the family den as much as they do in the classroom. Indeed, statistics abound on the television habits of children. High school seniors will have watched about 15,000 hours of television by the time they graduate (1986 Nielson Report as cited in Powell 41). To gain perspective, Hal Blythe and Charlie Sweet put it this way: "By the time the vidkids matriculate at their favorite institution of higher learning, almost one-half of their waking life will have been spent being Superseted, Chromacolored, and Colortaked" (22-23). Sister Rosemary Winkeljohann reports this incident: A few seasons ago, on an episode of "Happy Days," Fonzie got a library card as a small part of the overall story. The producers thought nothing of it until they later learned that librarians all over the country were swamped the next day with children coming to the library. Children who had never used the library facilities now wanted library cards! (100) "
Abstract A comprehensive analysis of the legality of parents denying their children access to health care on the basis of their involvement in a "faith healing" religion such as Christian Science or Faith Tabernacle. The paper explains that for some residents of the United States, traditional medicine is not religiously acceptable in the face of sickness. On the contrary, these residents are so strongly against medicine that they will not even allow their children to see a doctor if they suffer from life threatening illnesses. It discusses how many followers of these religions are denying the use of traditional medicine and joining a movement that shies from what society considers the norm for treating sickness by putting their belief in God's ability to heal their family's illnesses. The paper argues however, that parents' religious convictions about the disuse of any type of medicine for their children should not be allowed as a legal means of denying their children this medicine because these convictions often cause the needless deaths and suffering of many children whom medical care would have helped.
From the Paper "For centuries America has debated to what extent church and state should be separated. More recently the argument about the disuse of medical treatment for religious reasons and the resulting deaths of the children of certain religious organization's followers has arisen. Since the seventeenth century when settlers came to America to escape religious persecution and seek religious freedom, the issue of separation of church and state has been in debate (Council 1). However, not all religions were given equal rights before the Bill of Rights was created: in Boston anyone preaching outside the established church could be fined or banned from the settlement (Weiss 11). Also, in areas that practiced South Anglicanism, those who spoke out against the Christian faith were sentenced to death (Weiss 11). However, the first amendment to the American Bill of Rights, which was passed in September of 1789, changed these discriminatory practices on a federal level and caused less religious discrimination to occur (Weiss 31). This amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" (Bartlett 3). This amendment did not, however, guarantee the protection of United States citizens from state religious discrimination; but the fourteenth amendment, which was passed at a later date, did (Weiss 32). Opponents for and against parents' rights to deny their child medical care based on religious convictions are eager to solve the question of the relationship of church and state and the necessity of parents to obtain medical care as required by state governments. This issue has thus become a pressing argument that must be solved quickly because many children's lives are at stake."
A look how multiculturalism is portrayed in children's literature and how in countries like Canada, the authors of such books for children, seemingly miss the mark.
2,700 words (approx. 10.8 pages), 5 sources, 2005, $ 106.95
Abstract Critical paper conveying how multiculturalism in children's literature often reflects an American and British theoretical foundation that does not suit the Canadian case. Introduction to a movement in education that deconstructs previous children's literature but that in its ideology may miss the point of what children's literature should endeavor to create in a positive curiosity concerning different cultures. Several theoretical pieces and examples from children's books on African-American, Chinese and Aboriginal themes to show several weaknesses in a much politicized campaign.
From the Paper "In the last three decades, much has been made of the need to promote multiculturalism and also, the goals of anti-racism, by way of children's literature that should encourage the child's positive awareness of different cultures. This seems particularly important in the wildly multicultural environments offered by cities such as Toronto where children should be encouraged to acquire an interest in other cultures according to an ability to understand and appreciate what is different. "
Abstract This paper looks at children's television and its negative influence on children today. The first section starts off the paper with a view into the positive side of children's television. Television isn"t entirely evil, so this section helps the reader understand that you aren"t completely against television. The second section describes how children are emotionally and mentally influenced by television shows. The third section relates how a child's increasing violent nature could be the result of the violence that they view every day in their shows. The fourth section discusses how the media is involved, primarily on a consumer basis. The fifth and final section refers to what the parent can do to in a world that is surrounded in television.
From the Paper "Televisions shows that are directed primarily towards a child audience are to a large degree responsible for the controversial decline in development that is visible in today's youth culture. Through this medium children are exposed to vast quantities of violence and negative themes. These shows contribute to the breakdown of family as well as the lessened emotional development of children. Not only has television proven detrimental on a child-to-child basis, but in addition has greatly influenced the overall standards of our consumer culture and quite possibly made us more so. While children's educational television shows are given high notoriety for making a positive contribution to a child's education and development, the problem lies in the fact that parents oftentimes neglect to research or take an active interest in their children's viewing. Due to the fact that they consider the programs directed mainly towards children to be either education or purely for the basis of entertainment parents do not seriously scrutinize them. In effect they fail to suspect these shows as being a major contributor to the upbringing and future of their children and the younger generation."
An examination of the phenomenon of Bipolar Disorder (manic depression) in children, focusing on how this affects children's social and behavioral development.
Abstract Bipolar disease in children, its prevalence, signs and symptoms, and treatment are discussed. No specific drugs are mentioned as the crux of the paper relates to the social development of these children. Specifically, the paper provides a quick definition of what is "normal" social development, the consequences of "abnormal" social development, and lastly what specific abnormalities or obstacles of social development affect children with bipolar disease.
From the Paper "Everyone can elicit some happy memory from childhood. For most individuals, an account of a favorite birthday party, camping trip, or other social event can be easily recollected. For some, this is an especially difficult challenge, and not because of an impaired memory or other cognitive deficit. They simply lack those memories; feelings of happiness, belonging to a peer group, or simply of having friends elude them. Bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depression) is a fairly well known illness that affects millions of adults worldwide and is now being diagnosed among children, some as young as 5 years old. Children with this condition are especially vulnerable, as it is during these years that their social development and interpersonal relationship skills are critically defined. Normal children do not have to consciously think about or make a coordinated effort to "make friends" usually; it is a process that seems to happen effortlessly. Bipolar children are not as fortunate, as the physical and psychological manifestations of the disease, coupled with the stigma that is usually attached to them, make healthy social development almost impossible. In response, the standard of care treatment of this disorder, at any age, is usually pharmacotherapy. But can this really help a lonely, depressed child, in their struggle to find a place in the world and be accepted?"
Abstract This paper discusses how interviewing children during therapy involves different skills than the process of interviewing adults and how as pointed out in Garbarino (1992), children do not have the same linguistic or cognitive competence as adults. Therefore, the process of interviewing children is necessarily unlike that of the process for interviewing adults, in that they often have different ways of communicating their thoughts and emotions than adults do. This summarizes the article, "Guidelines for Interviewing Children", which describes this delicate process."
Abstract The paper quotes Manchester (2003) who contends that women who murder their children often suffer from postpartum depression, causing women to believe there is no hope of an adequate future for themselves or their children. The paper discusses how the article provides discussion on this topic with research into the historical evidence of women murdering their children and how these cases were handled in the criminal justice system. The paper explains that according to the author, society has historically been lenient with women that suffered from postpartum depression although children's lives were taken by these women.
