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What Is Special Education?
Fair is not everyone having the same thing.
Fair is everyone having what they need to be successful.
Special education as we now know it began in 1975 with the Education for all Handicapped Children Act (EHA) which required all public schools in the United States to provide adequate services to any child who had a diagnosed learning disability. The EHA has been revised several times since then and has evolved into the Individuals with disabilities Education Improvement Act which provides our current special education rules.
Special education is instruction that is modified or accommodated for those students with singular needs or disabilities, such as learning differences, physical or developmental disabilities, or other health impairments. Modifications can consist of changes in curriculum, supplementary aides or equipment, and the provision of specialized facilities that allow students to participate in the educational environment to the fullest extent possible. Students may need this help to access subject matter, to physically gain access to the school, or to meet their emotional needs.
At Zavalla ISD we recognize that all students are unique individuals and strive to provide each student with what they need to be successful.
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What are Learning Disabilities?
For someone diagnosed with a learning disability, it can seem scary at first. But a learning disability doesn't have anything to do with a person's intelligence - after all, such successful people as Walt Disney, Alexander Graham Bell, Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, Tom Cruise, Cher and Whoopi Goldberg all had learning disabilities.
Learning disabilities are problems that affect the brain's ability to receive, process, analyze, or store information. These problems can make it difficult for a student to learn as quickly as someone who isn't affected by learning disabilities. There are many kinds of learning disabilities. Most students affected by learning disabilities have more than one kind. Certain kinds of learning disabilities can interfere with a person's ability to concentrate or focus and can cause someone's mind to wander too much. Other learning disabilities can make it difficult for a student to read, write, spell, or solve math problems.
The way our brains process information is extremely complex - it's no wonder things can get messed up sometimes. Take the simple act of looking at a picture, for example: Our brains not only have to form the lines into an image, they also have to recognize what the image stands for, relate that image to other facts stored in our memories, and then store this new information. It's the same thing with speech - we have to recognize the words, interpret the meaning, and figure out the significance of the statement to us. Many of these activities take place in separate parts of the brain, and it's up to our minds to link them all together. |
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Child Find
Educating Texas…One child at a time!
Do you know the typical developmental stages of a child? |
At 3 months, a child typically:
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At 18 months, a child typically:
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Pulls off shoes and socks
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Stacks blocks
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Turns the pages of a book
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Walks without help
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Follows simple directions
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At 6 months, a child typically:
- Knows familiar faces
- Plays with toes
- Babbles
- Sits with support
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At 2 years, a child typically:
- Says sentences
- Recognizes pictures
- Plays alone
- Runs
- Identifies parts of a face
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At 12 months, a child typically:
- Pulls to standing position
- Crawls to hands and knees
- Places toys in a container
- Says one or two words
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At 3 years, a child typically:
- Rides a tricycle
- Opens doors
- Is toilet trained
- Hops on one foot
- Plays with other children
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If you think your child is not developing typically, Child Find can help. Early education can be critical because of the amount of learning that takes place in the preschool years.
The Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities provides services for children ages 3-5. If you’re aware of a child who may have a disability, please contact the Special Education department at Zavalla ISD for information about screening and evaluation services at no cost.
Public schools in Texas provide for the special education of children who have a disability. Children with identified physical, mental perceptual, speech, language, social and/or hearing problems may be eligible for services beginning at birth. Districts use information from a variety of sources to determine eligibility according to federal and state guidelines.
The services provided are developed by the Admission, Review and Dismissal Committee. This committee typically consists of the child’s parents, an educator, an administrator, and someone involved with the testing. Each child’s program is individualized to meet the child’s needs |
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Websites of Interest
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Contact for Special Education Program
Molly Mills
Director of Special Programs |
431 E. Main Street
Zavalla, TX 75980 |
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Phone: (936) 897-2271
Fax: (936) 897-2674 |
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