what's the genetic test for mental retardation or autism joe?
We don't have those yet. someday we will.
eta: millions are spent on special education services over and above gen ed. I estimate 5 times the amount for a regular ed student and I'm being conservative
Yes they are. and is that wise? Are we doing it to give them a quality of life that is normal, or just to make ourselves feel better. And could those resources be used on let's say, a poor kid with no disabilities who is reading from a 15 year old used textbook with missing pages who can't concentrate because his classroom has a broken heating system.
Our Special Ed policy is a overreation to the horrible days when we warehoused the disabled when their parents could no longer handle them. We've just gone to the other extreme.
as age of the mom increases so does the risk of having a special needs child. That is accurate
I'm glad to see you are not totally immune to science.
yes, an over-reaction. The problem is IDEA is an unfunded mandate here to stay. What can you do otherwise?
Special ed teachers are often expected to do the impossible which is cure them.
A parent asked me last month " do you think he will ever be married?" I was honest and said I did not believe any woman would want to accept that responsibility. The mom cried.
Her child is severely autistic. He can feed himself, dress himself, toilet, shower, brush his teeth, is mobile. Beyond that?
no so much.
He will be in my classroom for 6 1/2 more years until he ages out. I don't know wft I'm going to do with him until he ages out of the school system. He screams and hollers and waves his arms when he gets agitated. He speaks one word sentences or repeats what you say to him(echolalia) he is not a candidate for competitive employment, but we are obligated to work toward that.
then there is the student that has siezures.............