Multiple Disabilties

Orthopedic Impairments

Definition

According to the IDEA, an orthopedic impairment is a severe orthopedic impairment that adversely affects a child's educational performance. The term includes impairments due to the effects of congenital anomaly (e.g., clubfoot, absence of some member, etc.), impairments due to the effects of disease (e.g., poliomyelitis, bone tuberculosis, etc.), and impairments from other causes (e.g., cerebral palsy, amputations, and fractures or burns that cause contractures).
The result of orthopedic problems varies, but generally students may have problems using legs, arms, and hands. Some will use assistive technology to help them function as independently as possible

Teaching Approaches

For these children I would allow more time for them to complete their work. I think its is important that they learn but more important that as they learn they are participating. I would make sure the student is comfortable in his or her desk so this will give them a better opportunity of learning. Also, that give the student a tape recorder to recorder answers if they have a hard time writing. Making the child make is own decision is a big key in helping them learn. I think that if the students picks would he would like to sit or what subject he wants to do next, gives me as a teacher a better idea what he is most interested in and is wanting to learn. If the students feels more comfortable in doing parts of his or her homework outside the classroom I feel that the teacher should allow this.
Also, I’ve heard that giving students lectures on a tape will better help them if they have difficulty in writing or are unable to write.

Specific Technologies

A tape recorder
An Easel
Pointer
Computers
TV’s for the students see visual
Board Markers
Pointers or Lasers
Adaptive Key Boards


Annoted References
1. http://www.napcse.org/exceptionalchildren/orthopedicimpairments.php
a great site for parents that explains this disability in great depth
2. http://www.as.wvu.edu/~scidis/motor.html
a good site for teaching strategies
3. http://www.suite101.com/reference/orthopedic_impairment
good articles for teachers or parents on this disability
4. http://www.aasep.org/professional-resources/exceptionalstudents/orthopedicimpairment/index.html
information for myself as an educator
5. http://www.plsd.k12.pa.us/HighSchool/FineArts/Special%20Needs/musicclassroom/orthopedic_impairment.htm
a website for teachers to help plan a student’s

Communication Disorders- Speech and Lanugage

Definition:

Communication disorders- encompasses a wide variety of problems in language, speech, and hearing. Speech and language impairments include articulation problems, voice disorders, fluency problems (such as stuttering), aphasia (difficulty in using words, usually as a result of a brain injury), and delays in speech and/or language.
Speech and language delays may be due to many factors, including environmental factors or hearing loss.Many communication disorders result from other conditions such as learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, or cleft lip or cleft palate.
Three basic types of speech impairment are articulation disorders
-errors in production of speech sounds
-fluency disorders *difficulties with flow or rhythm of speech
-voice disorders *problems with the quality or use of one's voice

Implications in Teaching

I think that Spoken language is very important to do while teaching, it provides the foundation for the development of reading and writing. Spoken and written language have a reciprocal relationship – each builds on the other to result in general language and literacy competence.
I think that when teaching these children it is important that the child knows that he needs to make the corrects sounds as well as possible. Speech pathologist should work with the child on his or her speech. Also, having the child record and listen to himself will help the student see what sounds he is missing. I know it is extremely hard on these students. As a elementary teacher I will give print outs of words and have time to go through each and every letter with the student to help them pronounce the word correctly. If a child cannot speak out I could provide a microphone for him to talk through to amplify his sounds.

Specific Technologies
Voice Recorders- to record their voices so they can replay back to themselves.
Microphones- to amplify their voices.
Speech Recognition Technology to help students be able to learn on the computer.
Hand held speech Devices- talks to students in instructional methods.

Annotated References
1. http://www.comeunity.com/disability/speech/communication.html
great definitions and ways to help these students.
2. http://www.kidsource.com/Kidsource/content2/language_disorders
a website for children’s parents
3. ttp://emedicine.medscape.com/article/317758-overview
has a great deal of information on this disorder.
4. http://www.readingrockets.org/article/5128
answers many different questions on this disorder
5. http://www.gusinc.com/
a site for hand help speech devices

Giftedness and Talented Children

The federal Definition for giftedness is:

Children and whenever applicable, youth, who are identified at the preschool, elementary, or secondary level as possessing demonstrated or potential high performances capabilities in areas such as intellectual, creative, specific academic, or leadership ability or in the performing and visual arts and who by reason thereof require services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school...gifted and talented will encompass a minimum of 3-5 percent of the school population.
"Children capable of high performance include those with demonstrated achievement and/or potential ability in any of the following areas, singly or in combination:
· general intellectual ability
· specific academic aptitude
· creative or productive thinking
· leadership ability
· visual or performing arts
· psychomotor ability."
There are many different characteristics of a gifted and talented child. These students can relate one idea to another, make sound judgments, acquire and manipulate abstract symbol systems, solve problems by refraining the question and creating novel solutions, perfection, need to precision, fascination with words and ideas, these children learn in great intuitive leaps, have an intense need for mental stimulation, have early moral and existential concerns, and have tendency toward introversion are a some just to name a few of the characteristics that these type of child perceive.

Implications of Teaching
When it comes to teaching these students. I think if they are easily getting bored in the classroom because they can already complete their work and have a great understand of everything that you are teaching the other students, then this where it is important as a teacher to make extra curriculum in regards to their knowledge. I think having these children learn the same thing as the rest of the child in the classroom but just put more to it. Going the extra step and making them do more in depth learning and studying. I think keeping these children on the same subject as the rest of the class is important if all possible. I know these children can be extremely smart and actually skip a grade but I’m not a believe much in to that.
I think these children need to stay in the appropriate grades. I think there needs to be a extra class where they can go participate with other gifted and talented children but also, be involved in the regular classroom as well. Children in the regular classroom can learn from these students in many different ways. If a teacher isn’t able to get the concept through a child’s mind it may be possible if the gifted student could briefly explain it to them they way the grabbed onto the concept and help out other children.
Overall, it is important that these children aren’t just completing there work and getting bored while in school. It is the teachers responsible to get these children on a higher curriculum where they can be challenged. It is necessarily important for the teacher to make learning fun and but not easy for these children. As a teacher, when I will have a gifted child in my classroom, I will make extra activities and another more difficult curriculum for these children to be taught and go by.
These children will need more challenging activities than the rest of the class.

Technologies:
Smart Boards.
Word Documents- have students type notes after writing them.
The Internet- this give the students ways to go farther into readings and research.

Annotated Reference:
1. http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=1498
This is a great website for parents as well as educators. Also, a website for the child as well.
2. http://specialed.about.com/od/giftedness/a/giftedsteps.htm
A great site for teachers, give different teaching strategies
3. http://www.weac.org/kids/1998-99/march99/differ.htm
a great article for teachers as well as parents on teaching differentiated instruction.
4. http://www.nwrel.org/msec/images/resources/justgood/12.99.pdf
a in depth study. Great reading.
5. http://www.brainy-child.com/expert/giftedness-section.shtml :
a website that has many different ideas on what to do with gifted students.