Special Education: Getting Rid of the Stigma

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Not many people who are not already involved with special education understand what exactly a student in a special education program does. Most people assume special education is for only the worst cases, such as autism or Down syndrome or that the students are completely different from any other student. However, this assumption is not the case. These assumptions only show some of the stigma against special education. Special education is the term used to “describe specially designed instruction that meets the unique needs of a child who has a disability,” (Hancock). As predetermined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), one qualifies for special education if they meet one or more of the thirteen disabilities included in the act. These disabilities include, but are not limited to, autism, hearing impairment, specific learning disability, visual impairment, and emotional disturbance. The IDEA act requires the public schools to provide a “free appropriate education”, or FAPE, to those who qualify. An example of a free appropriate program is “modifications in the educational program, such as curriculum and teaching methods,” (Hancock).
In the 2009-2010 school year, 13.1% of the U.S. student population was in some form of special education. That data tells us that a little more than every one in ten students is in special education. This percentage is a huge jump up from the 8.3% of students in special education programs in the 1976-1977 school year (National Center). One would be right to assume the percentage has only risen since three years ago, when the percentage was calculated. Obviously, special education is a big deal.
Did you know disabled children are more likely to be bullied than children who are...

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... in the United States which “have been conducted on the connection between bullying and developmental disabilities,” (“Bullying and”). Otherwise, I am looking forward to seeing where this paper goes.

Works Cited

"Bullying and Harassment of Students with Disabilities." National Bullying Prevention Center - Students with Disabilities Top 10 Things to Know. National Bullying Prevention Center, n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2014.
"Bullying Definition." Home. Stopbullying.org, n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2014.
Hancock, Michele. "Understanding the 13 Categories of Special Education." Understanding the 13 Categories of Special Education. SBI!, n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2014.
National Center for Education Statistics. "Table 46." Chart. Digest of Education Statistics. N.p.: U.S. Department of Education, 2011. N. pag. Print.
"What Is Cyberbullying." Home. Stopbullying.org, n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2014.

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