Teaching

Students with
Special Needs
in the General
Classroom
Presents A Virtual Symposium
on Cognitive Exceptionalities.
.
 Embracing
exceptionalities
at home and in
the classrooms
° Monday Nov 14, 2020
° 2: 30 pm – 4:30 pm
° Guest speakers:
° Nayoka Douglas
° Peta-Gaye Lalloo
° Deneise Drummond
° Salliesha Hall
° Tashana Williams
° Damarlie Williams
 Learning Disabilities
° A learning disability is a reduced intellectual
ability and difficulty with everyday activities
– for example household tasks, socializing or
managing money – which affects someone for
their whole life (Mencap, 2018).
° Learning disabilities are disorders that affect
the ability to understand or use spoken or
written language, do mathematical
calculations, coordinate movements, or direct
attention.
 What is an Intellectual Disability?
° Intellectual disability involves problems
with general mental abilities that affect
functioning in two areas: intellectual
functioning (such as learning, problem
solving, judgement) adaptive functioning
(activities of daily life such as
communication and independent living).
° Intellectual disability was once called
“mental retardation” and is usually
characterized by below-average intelligence
or mental ability and a lack o skills
necessary for day-to-day living.
 Characteristics of Learning Disabilites And Intelectual
Disabilities
° Learning Disabillty
° Students with learning disability are unable to
discriminante between /among letters and number.
° Students have short attention span/easily
distracted.
° Students have poor memory. They find it difficult
remembering.
° Intelectual Disabilty
° Students with Intelectual disability
° Have dificulta understanding New información.
° Find it difficult yo with communicating with
others and poor social skills
° Have challenges with critica thinking.
Accommodations And Modifications Teachers Can Use To Facilitate Learners With Autism
Accommodations And Modifications Teachers Can Use To Facilitate Learners With Down
Syndrome

Teachers changing the assignment giving to

students and or the way the information is

delivered in the class.

Example: Instead of teacher reading a text to

the class, she would instead show them a

video.
Accommodations And Modifications Teachers Can Use To Facilitate Learners With Down
Syndrome

 Will allow more time for students to complete

their assignment and allowing them to take short

breaks in between class activities.

 Example: If the assignment given due date is on

the 10th, teacher will adjust the timeline giving

them additional time to complete the assignment.

 Two Ways Teachers Can Collaborate With Parent/Guardians
PLANNING TOGETHER
° Teachers should involve parents/guardians (and
the student if possible) in the development of
teaching and learning strategies. Teachers can
update parents weeks before planning the lesson,
work collaboratively on achieving the goals,
meet to finalize goals, discuss the schedule of
services and integration of goals in which
parent/guardians can share any concerns they
may be having going forward.
 Two Ways Teachers Can Collaborate With Parent/Guardians
COMUNICATION
° Teachers can make a plan for communication
before school starts. Teachers along with
parent/guardians can decide how they will
communicate (via email, call and present
options).
° Ask parents about their child. By building this,
the teacher will know the students strengths ,
weaknesses, and interests. Using this information
the teacher can weave connections into teaching.
For example, A child who struggles with math
but loves Pokémon may respond differently if
Pikachu shows up in the lesson
° Through communication, teachers can find out
what the parent/guardians prefer.
 Agency/Organization In Jamaica Which Provides Services For Children with
Intellectual Disabilities

° The Jamaican Association on Intellectual Disabilities

° The Jamaican Association on Intellectual Disabilities (JAID) works through education, advocacy

and research to improve the quality of life of children and adults with intellectual disabilities and

their families and work to prevent the causes and the effects of intellectual disabilities.
 ContactinformationprovidedbyJAIDsothatteachersandparentscangetassistance

Address: 7 Golding Avenue, Kingston 7 (Head Office) Email: jamr@cwjamaica.com

Open: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Contact: Executive Director Mrs Christine Rodriquez

Phone: (876) 977-0134; 977- 1118

Fax: (876) 970-3182

Email: jamr@cwjamaica.com
 Services Provided by JAID
° The Association provides the following services:

° Educational Assessment and Placement, Development Assessment, Early Intervention and Special

Education, Transition and Vocational Programming, Continuing Education Program–Skills Training,

Mainstream Education, Social and Recreational Programming, Guidance and Counselling, Social

Services, Professional Development.

Jamaica Association for Children with Learning Disabilities (JACLD)

° Jamaica Association for Children with Learning Disabilities is dedicated to the education of children in Jamaica with

neurological disorders which cause difficulty in organising, remembering and expressing information.

° Types of Learning Disabilities

 Dyslexia (inability to read)

 Dyscalculia (inability in mathematical reasoning)

 Dysgraphia (difficulty with syntax, that is arrangement of words in sentences)

 Visual and auditory difficulties

 Contact information provided by JACLD so that teachers and parents can get
assistance

° Address: 7 Leinster Road Kingston 5

Email: jacld7leinster@yahoo.com

Open: JACLD/The Learning Centre offices are: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Operational hours for the Learning Centre (school):

7:45 am to 2:00 p.m. After school tutoring and part-time students: 2:15 pm - 3:30 p.m.

° Contact: Director, Alicia Francis

Phone: (876) 929-4341

Fax: (876) 929-4348

Email: jacld7leinster@yahoo.com
 Services Provided by JACLD
° Services Provided
° Testing, Intervention programme in areas of weaknesses, Pupil teacher ratio 15:2 (Full-
time) 6:1 (part-time),

° Public Awareness, Seminars for Teachers and Parents, Accommodation for interim student
teachers; and

° Research.