How do students with disabilities learn, interact, and take in information?
Q. In the classroom, how do individuals with disabilities perform? Not enough people give them credit for trying...Though they have a disability, they're not any different than us as people, and I was just wondering how different do they learn in the classroom?
Asked by rascal kid - Mon Jan 29 16:51:16 2007 - - 9 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Well, I have personal experience on this one. I am legally blind since birth, so I went all through school having a disability. It's true that it is all about having the appropriate accomodations so that the students have the best chance possible to learn at the same rate as the other children. However, my experience was that of a child who was so determined to be independent and be like everyone else that I did not always use my accomodations for fear of standing out or being "strange." I could fake it a lot because I am not totally blind, I can still see a bit. Some kids did make fun, all the way up through high school even. But once I did get to high school age, I didn't care as much anymore about what people thought - I needed… [cont.]
Answered by Melody - Wed Jan 31 20:50:04 2007

I want a job working with people with disabilities. How do I find one?
Q. I went to school to become a special ed teacher, but did that for two years and recently resigned from my position. I still want to work with individuals (preferably children/teens) with disabilities, but not in a school setting. I used to work for a special rec assosiation, but want something full time and can't find any full time positions available in my area. I would be really interested in doing event planning, program coordination, inclusion facilitation, etc. Does anyone know of any resources I can use to help me find available positions in this area of work? I live near Chicago. Are there any national agencies that I should try? I tried Best Buddies, but they didn't have anything, and I'm not that familiar with others. … [cont.]
Asked by Angie W - Thu Jan 18 21:11:28 2007 - - 6 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Why don't you contact some group homes. I know Deveraux is a big company that works with special needs people of all ages. Group home may be something you might be interested in b/c you can still work with special needs people. A good source might be your county's office of mental retardation &/or mental health. Call and ask them if they can provide names of agencies for you. United Cerebral Palsy, Unicef or Easter Seals might also have some opportunities for you. Another option...a little out of the range you mentioned is sales. Publishing companies always look for teachers to sell text books and/or materials. You would go to conventions, schools, universities, etc. and demonstrate the products. I know others who left teaching… [cont.]
Answered by lolabellaquin - Thu Jan 18 21:57:08 2007

How can one redirect an adult or a child with disabilities or behavioral issues?
Q. I am a job coach for a company who works with adults who have behavioral problems as well as disabilities. Do you have any helpful hints in redirecting their attention to something else, or help them understand the do's and dont's. (I'm new at this.)
Asked by k8e_k8s - Sat Jun 28 16:47:45 2008 - - 5 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Remember ABC : Antecedent-Behavior-Conse quence: what happened before and after a behavioral problem? The A and C are up to you, in many cases, so you can often change the B by manipulating the antecedent and consequence. Try to teach your workers how to express their needs and feelings, so anxieties won't get in the way. Build in breaks, state things positively, not "That's wrong," but "Let's do it like this". Some people with devt'l disabilities work best with a schedule, either written (list of tasks) or picture schedule. The predictability of the schedule takes some anxiety away, thus reducing some behavioral problems. Start with task-reward (or break, if that is rewarding), then go to task-task-reward, etc, until you develop… [cont.]
Answered by bjarrett_99 - Sun Jun 29 10:59:52 2008