Least Restrictive Environment

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Least Restrictive Environment

• By
• Erik Sullivan Matthew Kent

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HISTORY

• The Beginning
• The Changes of LRE

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LAW

• Federal Law
• The Individual with Disabilities Education Act
• The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504
• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
• New York State Law and Regulations
• Article 89
• Part 200 of Regulations of the Commissioner of
  Education

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IDEA conditions

• Mental retardation
• Hearing impairment (including deafness)
• Speech or language impairment
• Visual impairment (including blindness)
• Serious emotional disturbance
• Orthopedic impairment

• Autism
• Traumatic brain injury
• Other health impairment
• Specific learning disability
• Deaf-blindness
• Multiple disabilities

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IDEA Supports and services

• Assigning various teachers personal and other
  service providers
• Use of assertive technology devices
• Development of behavior intervention and support
  plans
• Modification of the general education
• Counseling

• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Orientation and mobility instruction
• School health services
• Speech and language therapy
• Vision education services

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The Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) Services and
Accommodations

• Repeating and simplifying instructions about
  in-class and homework assignments
• Supplementing verbal instructions an viual
  instructiion
• Using behavioral mangament techniques
• Modifying test delivery

• Computer-aided instruction
• Arranging for reduced class sizes
• Classrooom aides and consultant teachers
• Scheduling accommodations
• Providing accessible facilities

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Americans with Disabilities Act

• Prohibits discrimination against people with
  physical or mental disabilities in all programs
  of state and local governments, including public
  and private, non-parochial schools.
• Removal from school buildings of physical barriers

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New York State Laws

• Article 89
• Children with disabilities be provided with
  special education

• Regulations of the
• Commissioner of Education
• Service close as possible to the students house
• Not removed from an age-appropriate regular
  classroom because of the need of modification in
  the general curriculum

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ATTITUDES

• Parents
• Peers
• Administrators
• Teachers

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Classroom Activity

• How to support new friendships
• What can parents do?
• What can teachers do?

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What can parents do?

• Create an environment in your home that attracts
  kids.
• Play detective.
• Sign your child up for community groups and
  activities.
• Help your child reach out to children she/he
  likes.
• Be sure your child has a typical routine.
• Use adult support only when necessary.

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What can teachers do?

• Use cooperative learning approaches in classroom
  activities.
• Assist each student to engage in classroom
  learning activities in a meaningful, valued way.
• Promote the concept that all children have
  strengths and gifts as well as areas which
  require support.
• Promote an open atmosphere of democracy in the
  classroom.
• Use the curriculum to talk about relationships.

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Accommodation for Inclusion/LRE Classroom

• Physical Arrangement of Room
• Lesson Presentation
• Assignments/Worksheets
• Behaviors

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Physical Arrangement of Room

• Seating student near the teacher
• Seating student near a positive role model
• Avoiding distracting stimuli
• Increasing distance between desks

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Lesson Presentation

• Paring students to check work.
• Writing key points on the board.
• Providing peer tutoring.
• Including a variety of activities during each
  lesson.
• Having child review key points orally.
• Teaching through multiple intelligences.

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Assignments/Worksheets

• Giving extra time to complete task.
• Simplifying complex directions.
• Reducing the reading level of the assignments.
• Giving frequent short quizzes and avoiding long
  tests.
• Recognize and give credit for students oral
  participation in class.
• Handing worksheets out one at a time.

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Behaviors

• Use of timer to facilitate task completion.
• Praising specific behavior.
• Giving extra privileges and rewards.
• Allowing for short breaks between assignments.
• Marking students correct answers, not his
  mistakes.
• Implementing a classroom behavior management
  system.

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Classroom Activity

• You be the Judge!

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Something to take away

• Equal education Is the foundation of the right
  to be a human being This doesn't not mean that
  any child or any other gifted child having a
  greater capacity to learn may or shall be
  deprived of his or her opportunity to learn more.
  It does mean that every child shall have the
  equal opportunity to learn to the best of his or
  her ability. That opportunity must be made
  available to all on equal terms. -Alfred
  Gitelson

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References

• Kavale, K. History, Rhetoric, and Reality.
  Retrieved 3/29/03 www.web20.epnet.com
• Least Restrictive Environment Coalition.
  Retrieved 3/29/03 www.1recoalition.org
• Moll, L. (1999) Least Restrictive Environment A
  Place or a Context? Retrieved 3/29/03
  www.web20.epnet.com
• Siegel, L. (1994). Least Restrictive Environment
  The Paradox of Inclusion. Pennsylvania LRP
  Publications.
• Stainback, W. Stainback, S. (1992).
  Controversial Issues Confronting Special
  Education. Massachusetts Allyn and Bacon.