SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH AND

WITHOUT EXCEPTIONALITIES

“Individual similarities and differences in learning is an observable

phenomenon which can be predicted, explained and altered in a great
variety of ways. In contrast, individual similarities/difference in learner is a
more esoteric notion. It frequently obscures our efforts to deal directly with
educational problems in that searches for explanations in the person of the
learner rather than in the interaction between individuals and educational
and social environments in which they have been placed”

B. Bloom

SOME TYPES OF INDIVIDUAL SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

• Interest

• Attitude

• Values

• Study habits

• Psychomotor skills

• Self-concepts

Similarities of individual for outweigh the differences as long as do not dwell

on every minute detail of our diversities. “Life, Liberty and pursuit of
Happiness”? It is only when we categorize these three staples of existence
that we begin to believe we are different from one another.

We all want to have life. One individual may want to have a simple life with
few burdens due to social achievement or possession of products while
another individual may want to achieve great social status and accumulate
as many possessions as they can. Depending on how we view these two
individuals, they are either very similar or very different.
Overall, only by perceiving our similarities can we avoid fascist attitudes
toward one another individually. Those who insist on pointing out our
differences do so out of some sort of hateful need to want to control how
others live, what liberties they may be allowed to have and how they are
allowed to pursue their individual flavor of happiness.

Students with Exceptionalities

Educators at all levels refer to special needs students as those with

exceptionalities. In general, exceptionalities fall in six broad categories.

1. Intellectual – this include students who have superior intelligence as

well as those who are slow to learn

2. Communicative – these students have special learning disabilities or

speech or language impairments.

3. Sensory – sensory-grouped students have auditory or visual disabilities.

4. Behavioral – these students are emotional disturbed or socially

maladjusted.

5. Physical – this includes students with orthopedic or mobility disabilities.

6. Multiple – these students have combination of conditions, such as

orthopedically challenged and visually impaired.

Every community is affected by any type of difference and similarity. This is

because of the inevitable interaction between the residents of the
community less friction can be expected when there is only one race and
there is only one culture. But we all know this won’t last because people
tend to move around more.

This habit of migrating creates the differences that affect the life within the
whole community. Depending on the individual, how one reacts towards
somebody who looks different will determine whether the community
successfully moved towards a more tolerant society or not.