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The Educator’s Handbook for Inclusive School Practices

by
Julie Causton, Ph.D.
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York

and
Chelsea P. Tracy-Bronson, M.A.
Stockton University
Baltimore·London·Sydney

Contents

  1. The General and Special Educator ...1
  2. Inclusive Education ...13
  3. Special Education ...31
  4. Rethinking Students: Presuming Competence ...53
  5. Collaborating with Others: Working within a Team ...69
  6. Providing Academic Supports ...97
  7. Providing Behavioral Supports ...135
  8. Providing Social Supports: Standing Back ...153
  9. Supporting and Supervising Paraprofessionals ...167
  10. Supporting You, Supporting Them: Caring for Yourself...179
  11. Appendix Useful Web Sites and Resources for Assistive Technology ...133
  12. Appendix Book Club Books, Articles, and Self-Care Books ...189
  13. References ...191

About the Authors

Julie Causton, Ph.D., is an expert in creating and maintaining inclusive schools. She is Professor in the Inclusive Special Education Program, Department of Teaching and Leadership, Syracuse University.

Chelsea P. Tracy-Bronson, M.A., is an advocate for individuals with disabilities and former elementary educator who has focused her career on bringing inclusive opportunities to all.

Collaborating with Others

Working within a Team

“I used to see it as my space. Now, I see the classroom as ours... it’s like magic... we are unlimited in our ideas.”
— Kelly (general education teacher)

“There was a change... he did not have to teach using a lecture format... I contributed thoughts on universal design for learning...”
— Diane (special education teacher)

“We were just so lucky... it was openness to learn. It was just huge.”
— Sheree (parent of a student with disabilities)

Roles and Responsibilities

Special Educators

A special educator is largely responsible for designing each student’s IEP. They work with a team to determine each student’s goals and ensure that they are met.

The Family

“Be open to the beauty of parent knowledge... React to problems not with no’s but with creativity!”

Physical Therapists

PTs work with students on gross motor development and mobility needs to enhance educational performance.

Speech-Language Pathologists

SLPs assist students in communication skills relating to language and articulation.

Occupational Therapists

OTs evaluate and provide therapy to help students participate fully in school activities.

School Psychologists

School psychologists help students succeed academically, socially, and emotionally, working closely with teaching teams.

School Social Workers

They provide links between home and school, assisting students and families in overcoming obstacles to learning.

Vision Teachers

Vision teachers support students with visual impairments by modifying curricula and providing needed materials.

Audiologists

Audiologists help students with hearing impairments to maximize their learning experience.

Paraprofessionals

Paraprofessionals support students in various capacities to ensure effective educational experiences.

Guiding Questions for Teams to Discuss