History and Medical Aspects of Students with Learning Disabilities

1
History and Medical Aspects of Students with
Learning Disabilities

• Special Education terminology
• IDEA 97 changes
• Reauthorization of IDEIA
• Organizations and practicing theories
• Brain functioning
• Unknown causes
• Attempted therapies (quick fixes)
• Recent medical findings

2
Warm-up Activity

• Is there any single cause to a LD?
• What are some examples of prenatal, perinatal,
  and postnatal causes?
• Name a few results from brain research on
  students with LD.
• What are some aspects to different disorders?
• Spoken language written language
  perceptual/motor
• Explain the chronology of the term learning
  disabilities. Were the earlier thoughts
  incorrect?
• What have been the outcomes of most LD treatments?

3
Special Education terminology

• LD MR ED/BD ADD ADHD
• IEP
• IFSP 504 plans
• LRE REI
• IDEA
• EHA
• Explicit/implicit
• Others?

4
IDEA 1997(longer lists from LDOnline on class
site)

• Adding to PL 94- 142 and IDEA 1990
• IEP
• includes the general education teacher and
  increases the emphasis on the parent as a member
• Requires an annual review
• Emphasizes the general education curriculum first
• Transitional IEP
• Established by age 16
• Statement needed by age 14

5
IDEA 1997 changes

• Discipline
• Manifestation determination
• If not manifested by the disability then removal
  from placement cannot exceed 10 days
• Functional behavioral assessment
• Required when a child has been removed more than
  10 days
• Positive behavior intervention plan
• Must be based on the FBA and teach replacement
  behaviors
• Interim Alternative Educational Setting
• Up to 45 days services and curriculum must match
  IEP needs inappropriate behavior must be
  addressed

6
2004 IDEiA information

• IEPs
• Who comprises an IEP team
• Assessment - from discrepancy to REI?
• Research-based v research-supported instruction
• Clarified 45 school days for removal in
  disciplinary situations
• and more (see http//www.pde.state.pa.us/special_
  edu/cwp/view.asp?a177q112563)

7
Organizations

• CEC
• CLD
• DLD
• LDA
• ADA
• Journals of interest Remedial and Special
  Education LD Research and Practice Exceptional
  Children Journal of LD Intervention in School
  and Clinic Teaching Exceptional Children
  Preventing School Failure Phi Delta Kappan
  Journal of Special Education Leadership Journal
  of Special Education Technology

8
Practicing Theories

• Heterogeneity and Assessment
• Preschool and Post-secondary services
• Teaching practices
• REI to inclusion
• Collaboration and Professional Services
• Technology

9
Brain Research and Neuropsychology

• MRI- magnetic resonance imaging shows size,
  shape, and location of brain structures
• fMRI- functional magnetic resonance imaging shows
  brain activity while people complete complex
  tasks
• PET- positron emission tomography measures
  metabolism with the brain thus determining
  glucose in the brain of a child with hyperactivity

10
Medical Aspects Brain functions

• Correlational data
• Wernickes and Brocas areas
• Motor development
• Memory
• Stimulations and stimulants
• http//www.articlesforeducators.com/dir/learning_d
  isabilities/understanding_the_brain.asp

11
Recent medical findings

• Poor readers share the same inactivity areas in
  the brain while reading difficult passages.
• Behavior has much to do with inputs and how brain
  processes reality.
• Neuron wiring changes with knowledge

12
Results on dyslexia

• Left parietal sulci emits lower energy for low
  memory
• Planum temporale is symmetric in dyslexic readers
• Frontal regions of the brain are more symmetric
  and smaller than other peoples
• Good readers use the front and back of their
  brains for phonological processing while students
  with dyslexia use only the front
• We need to teach using strategies effective at
  developing activity essential to parts of the
  brain (ie., connect sounds and symbols)

13
Medical Needs of Children

• The physical needs of children must be met before
  learning can be optimized
• Aside from brain development and wiring concerns,
  what other medical factors affect learning?
• Hearing
• Vision
• Psychological

14
Quick fixes

• Pros and Cons of Ritalin Cylert Dexedrine
  (p.228-229)
• Megavitamin
• Feingold diet
• Tinted lenses
• Perceptual training
• D.O.R.E.
• Scare and boot camp techniques

15
Where to go for more information..

• Brain research Lyon Shaywitz
• Legal changes National Information Center for
  Children and Youth with Disabilities LDOnline
• Technology Evers
• Inclusion Everington Giangreco
• Any others???

16
Summary

• Why study instructional methods meant for
  students with learning disabilities?
• What do we know about the medical aspects of
  people with dyslexia?
• What behavioral aspects are explained in IDEA
  1997 and 2004?
• How do some of the contemporary practices in
  special education affect students with learning
  disabilities?