WHAT'S NEW - FEBRUARY 2003

INCLUSIVE EDUCATION

Welcome to the website for the Council on Alberta Teaching Standards (COATS). This area of the website changes monthly. The theme for this month will be of interest to teachers, administrators, parents and others who are exploring the issue of inclusive education. The first section below identifies several weblinks related to the topic. The following sections include references to an online journal article and books. We hope that you find this website to be a valuable resource.

For quick reference bookmark http://www.teachingquality.ab.ca today!

WEBSITES AND ARTICLES RELATED TO INCLUSIVE EDUCATION

Awareness of Chronic Health Conditions: What the Teacher Should Know (2001)
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/specialed/awareness/

This website, posted by the Ministry of Education in British Columbia, is directed to regular and special educators. The online resource book offers tips and classroom strategies for classroom teachers who have students with chronic health problems. Such health problems can be equivalent to disabilities. The health problems addressed include allergies, asthma, attention deficit disorder, and diabetes, to mention only some. For each health problem, the website also provides the names of possible associations to contact for more information and support.

Campus Alberta: Inclusive/Special Education Initiative (CAISEI) (2002)
http://psych.athabascau.ca/html/CAISEI/Concept_Paper_Nov_26.doc

This concept paper is intended for regular classroom teachers, special educators, administrators, and support staff working in schools as well as other stakeholders. The four Alberta universities have developed a partnership to respond to the need for professional development opportunities related to inclusive/special education within Alberta. This paper reports findings of a recent needs assessment among teachers and other involved professionals. The paper also outlines the variety of programs to be offered through the partnership arrangements. The ultimate beneficiaries of these programs will be the exceptional needs students in Alberta classrooms. This concept paper is hosted online at Athabasca University.

Educating Students with Disabilities in General Education Classrooms:
A Summary of the Research (2002)
Moore, C.
University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
http://interact.uoregon.edu/wrrc/AKInclusion.html

This website, last updated in 2002, advances a position in support of inclusive educational practices. To some extent, the viewpoint expressed here reflects experiences in Alaska. The author develops a distinctive position on the meaning of inclusive education, distinguishing between mainstreaming, integration and inclusion. The principal objective of inclusion is to provide a quality education to children with disabilities. The challenge is to teach in such a way that all students benefit. Inclusion can take various shapes within the school, and the variety of inclusive practices is illustrated in a series of vignettes.

Education, Special (2003)
The Canadian Encyclopedia
Brown, R. I.
http://thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&TCE_Version=A&SectionId=637512&MenuClosed=0

This online article deals with special education from a number of complementary perspectives. Having first characterized special education as either remedial or enriching, the author goes on to provide an account of the categories used in Canada to classify exceptional persons. Likewise, the website outlines the various educational services available to exceptional children in the classroom. A particular section of the article deals with the actual assessment of children. Still other sections speculate about the future of special education and voice the need to enhance the professional skills of regular classroom teachers. The website contains numerous links to related topics.

ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education (2000)
Frequently Asked Questions
http://ericec.org/faqs.html

This website offers an extensive database of information related to students with exceptional needs. The database relies on categories used to diagnose student exceptionalities in the United States. The actual selection of topics is based on inquiries submitted to the Clearinghouse. The topics fall under such categories as attention deficit disorders, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, mainstreaming, gifted education and more. The database contains links to numerous online resources including ERIC Digests.

Gifted Education in Alberta (2000)
http://external.educ.ucalgary.ca/altagift/

This website, developed by the Centre for Gifted Education at the University of Calgary, is dedicated to informing interested parties about what is happening with regard to gifted education in Alberta. One part of the website specifically highlights the opportunities for gifted students within the Alberta context. Examples are provided of school programs for the gifted at various locations. A separate section of the website draws attention to schools for the gifted. The website also points to enrichment activities for gifted students. Of particular interest to teachers, one section of the website focuses on educator resources.

Identification of Students with Special Needs (2003)
http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/k_12/specialneeds/ident.asp
http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/K_12/specialneeds/

The first webpage from Alberta Learning publishes the prevailing policies regarding special needs students. A first step remains identification of children with special needs. The Guide to Education for Students with Special Needs outlines the responsibilities of teachers, school authorities and government with regard to special education students. The second webpage presents additional, more recent and new information in the form of Special Education Definitions for 2002/2003, and Standards for Special Education, which will take effect September 1, 2003. The second webpage is key for locating the latest information regarding all aspects of special education policy in Alberta. The documents are intended for teachers, parents, councilors, administrators, the general public and others interested in special education.

Individual Educational Planning: A Handbook for Developing Individual IEP's (2003)
http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/ks4/specedu/iep/index.html

This website from Manitoba Education, last updated in 2003, provides a handbook for designing IEP's. IEP's (Individual Educational Plans) are instructional plans designed to address the needs of specific individual students with disabilities. Now in a second edition, the handbook is organized into three chapters. Chapter 1 deals with the general background of IEP's. Chapter 2 focuses on when and for whom IEP's are suitable. Chapter 3 deals with the actual development of IEP's. The handbook will be of interest to those teachers, administrators and resource personnel involved in the assessment of special needs students, and in the development or evaluation of IEP's.

J. P. Das Developmental Disabilities Centre (2001)
Inclusive Education Resources
http://www.ualberta.ca/~jpdasddc/inclusion/index.html

This website from the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Alberta offers a wealth of practical reference materials for those interested in matters of inclusive education. The resources are directed to parents, teachers, and administrators. One section of the resources includes stories and strategies for success in inclusive education. Some links deal with developmental disabilities, and a pathway (Click "DDC HOME.") is provided to the Developmental Disabilities Bulletin (DDB). In addition, the website contains a convenient built-in search engine. Links to other websites on inclusive education are also included.

Teacher Competencies Needed (1999)
University if Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa
http://www.uni.edu/coe/inclusion/standards/competencies.html

What competencies does a teacher require to engage successfully in inclusive education? This webpage, posted by the Renaissance Group, is noteworthy in that it presents a clear statement regarding the competencies that regular and special educators require to be effective in serving children with special needs. This succinct statement might supply a point of departure for clarification of teachers' roles within other jurisdictions. This webpage is part of a larger website dealing with other facets of inclusive education. The Renaissance Group is an association of universities dedicated to reform in teacher education.

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Title:		Insight: Special Education in Canada.
Source:		Perception Volume 25, #2 (Fall 2001)
Author(s):		Gibson Kierstead, A. & Hanvey, L.
Abstract:		This online journal article, published by the Canadian Council on Social Development in Ottawa, offers a snapshot of special education in Canada.\ The information presented here was gathered through a survey of experts in the field of special education during the summer of 2000. Specifically, the study focuses on the related effects of recent restructuring in education, the existing status of special education services, meeting the needs of special needs children, and assessing available resources for special education. The study concludes that more educational resources, both professional and financial, would be desirable for responding to the needs of exceptional students.
ISSN:		N/A
BOOKS
Title:		The Paraprofessional's Guide to the Inclusive Classroom: Working as a Team. (2nd ed.).
Source:		Toronto: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co. (2002). Pages xv+137.
Author(s):		Doyle, M. B., Ph. D.
Abstract:		This book is directed to the needs of paraprofessionals who work with educators in inclusive classrooms. Organizing material into six chapters, the author treats topics such as the changing role of paraprofessionals, paraprofessionals as part of a team, paraprofessionals' involvement in IEP's (individualized education programs) and in curricular support, as well as their role in maintaining confidentiality. A new chapter in this edition deals with encouraging positive behaviors. This resource book also contains a variety of pertinent practitioner reflections. An appendix offers a collection of useful materials. References and an index are also included.
ISBN:		15576653389
Title:		Technology for Inclusion: Meeting the Special Needs of All Students. (4th ed.).
Source:		Toronto: Allyn & Bacon. (2003). Pages xiv+ 191.
Author(s):		Male, M.
Abstract:		This volume is intended for teachers, support staff and parents of students with disabilities. Over the course of 14 chapters, the author develops the theme of connection between technology and inclusion. The author contends that suitable technology can be a means to address the learning needs of students, with or without disabilities. Technology is, accordingly, a means of empowerment for students, educators and parents. Much of the book is aimed at identifying technology applications, from software to the Internet, that benefit students with specific disabilities. The book presents student learning activities and references with each chapter.
ISBN:		0205342205