Special education means specially designed instruction that meets individual needs of exceptional students.

Educational Definition. of Exceptional Learners. For purposes of education, exceptional learners are those who require special education and related services if they are to realize their full human potential (Kauffman & Hallahan, 2005a).

An individual can be a member of many subcultures. An IFSP refers to an: individualized family service plan.

Children with severe multiple disabilities who have difficulty in coping with regular schools are referred to such special schools.

Special needs is defined as an individual with a mental, emotional, or physical disability….Other types of special needs include:

• Autism.
• ADHD.
• Cerebral palsy.
• Down syndrome.
• Emotional disturbance.
• Epilepsy.
• Reading and learning disabilities.
• Intellectual disabilities.

General Etiquette Tips

1. Practice the Golden Rule. Treat everyone as you would like to be treated.
2. Always Ask Before Giving Assistance. Just because a person has a disability, they don’t necessarily need or want your assistance.
3. Think Before You Speak.
4. Avoid Showing Pity or Being Patronizing.

A child with a general learning disability finds it more difficult to learn, understand and do things compared to other children of the same age. Like all children and young people, children with learning disabilities continue to progress and learn throughout their childhood – but more slowly.

If a school aged student is diagnosed with high functioning Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome (hereinafter referred to collectively as “Asperger’s”) and has special needs that rise to the level of requiring special education services, he or she would be classified and receive an Individualized Education Plan (“IEP”).

When it comes to other developmental disabilities and special needs, a person’s cognitive abilities are usually consistent. Many special needs cause generally low cognitive skills. With autism, a person’s cognitive skills are uneven. For example, a person with autism may have exceptional mathematical abilities.

Yes, autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability, based on a neurodevelopmental (brain-related) disorder. The disorder occurs when brain development is impaired by a number of structural and functional abnormalities.

In severe cases, an autistic child may never learn to speak or make eye contact. But many children with autism and other autism spectrum disorders are able to live relatively normal lives.

Change in severity of autism symptoms and optimal outcome One key finding was that children’s symptom severity can change with age. In fact, children can improve and get better. “We found that nearly 30% of young children have less severe autism symptoms at age 6 than they did at age 3.

The most effective treatments available today are applied behavioral analysis (ABA), occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, and pharmacological therapy.

There is no known single cause for autism spectrum disorder, but it is generally accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function. Brain scans show differences in the shape and structure of the brain in children with autism compared to in neurotypical children.

Genetics. Several different genes appear to be involved in autism spectrum disorder. For some children, autism spectrum disorder can be associated with a genetic disorder, such as Rett syndrome or fragile X syndrome. For other children, genetic changes (mutations) may increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder.

Children born to older parents are at a higher risk for having autism. Parents who have a child with ASD have a 2 to 18 percent chance of having a second child who is also affected. Studies have shown that among identical twins, if one child has autism, the other will be affected about 36 to 95 percent of the time.

Clues to the first two questions come from studies that have shown that at least 30% of individuals with autism have spontaneous de novo mutations that occurred in the father’s sperm or mother’s egg and disrupt genes important for brain development, these spontaneous mutations likely cause autism in families where …

Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorders

• Genetics. ASD tends to run in families.
• Age of Parents. Either parent 35 years or older can make the risk of ASD in a child higher.
• Problems from Pregnancy or Birth. Mothers who had problems during pregnancy or birth may raise the risk of ASD risk in their children.
• Other Health Problems.
• References.

1. Live healthy. Have regular check-ups, eat well-balanced meals, and exercise.
2. Don’t take drugs during pregnancy. Ask your doctor before you take any medication.
3. Avoid alcohol.
4. Seek treatment for existing health conditions.
5. Get vaccinated.

The link between a mother’s age and autism is more complex: Women seem to be at increased odds of having a child with autism both when they are much older and much younger than average, according to some studies. Nailing down why either parent’s age influences autism risk has proved difficult, however.

Advanced paternal age might be associated with a slightly higher risk of pregnancy loss before week 20 of pregnancy (miscarriage) or stillbirth. Rare birth defects. Older paternal age might slightly increase the risk of certain rare birth defects, including defects in the development of the skull, limbs and heart.

A new study found that some children correctly diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) at an early age may lose symptoms as they grow older. Further research may help scientists understand this change and point the way to more effective interventions.