Exceptional Children: Children with Physical Disabilities or Sensory Impairments

All children display differences from one another in terms of their physical characteristics and learning disabilities. The differences among most children are quite minor, allowing them to benefit from the general education program. Heward (2014) stated that the physical characteristics and/or learning characteristics of exceptional children differ from the norm, either above or below, to such an extent that they require an individualized program of special education and related services to get full value from education. The term exceptional children include children who have difficulties in understanding and learning as well as those whose academic levels are so advanced that changes in academic curriculum and instruction are necessary to help them fulfill their potential said Heward (2014)

Exceptional children refers to children with physical disabilities or sensory impairments, learning and/or behavior problems, and children with superior intellectual abilities and/or special talents (Heward, 2014). Learning the terms of several related terms will help you better understand the concept of exceptionality.

Heward (2014) stated that there are thirteen disability categories such as learning disabilities, speech or language impairment, intellectual disability, emotional disturbance, autism, multiple disabilities, developmental delay, hearing impairment, orthopedic impairment, visual impairment, traumatic brain injury, and deaf-blindness.

Prior to 1975, many states had laws that denied children with disabilities access to a public education. After the first public law (PL 94-142) for special education was passed in 1975 and called the All Handicapped Children Act, children with disabilities were allowed to attend a public schoo...

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... and related services. The parents’ input and wishes must be considered in determining IEP goals, related service needs, and placement decisions.”

Individuals with Disability Act has greatly impacted the way education has been taught across the United States. IDEA was put in place, to better the way education is taught to children with disabilities and to children without disabilities. Special education as a whole, has faced many challenges. Educators have been working on to reduce the gap between effective teaching practices and what exceptional children experience in the classrooms. Components of IDEA has also greatly impacted educators’ roles within the American system and the lives of individuals with disabilities.

Works Cited

Heward, W. L. Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education (10th ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson/Merrill.