Special education is a customized approach to teaching and supporting individuals with disabilities. Services include personalized instruction, accommodations, and services to help students learn and succeed in school and the community.
Special education teachers work with students and young adults with special needs, such as learning, mental, emotional, or physical disabilities. These teachers address individual students' unique challenges and requirements, ensuring they have equal educational opportunities. They are creative, passionate, and problem-solving thinkers who adapt teaching methods, provide additional support, and create inclusive learning environments to meet the diverse needs of students with various disabilities.
Special education is specially designed instruction that supplements what students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) receive in the least restrictive environment. Special education is instruction designed to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities. Special education can also include services that assist these students in accessing their special education services, referred to as related services. Related services are developmental, corrective, and supportive services required to help a child with a disability benefit from special education services. Generally, related services are provided in addition to special education instruction.
All services and supports are provided to enable the child:
to advance appropriately toward attaining their annual goals
to be involved in and make progress in the general education curriculum or appropriate activities for children ages three through five
to participate in extracurricular and other nonacademic activities
to be educated and participate with their nondisabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate in all of these activities.