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Kulwinder Pal, Lovely Professional University Unit 1: Special Education: Concept and Nature

Unit 1: Special Education: Concept and Nature Notes

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
1.1 Concept of Special Education
1.2 Adaptations and Modifications
1.3 Nature of Special Education
1.4 Special Education in India
1.5 Summary
1.6 Keywords
1.7 Review Questions
1.8 Further Readings

Objectives

The objectives of this unit can be summarized as below:
• to describe about adaptations and modifications.
• to know the concept of special education.
• to explain about nature of special education.
• to analyse special education of India.

Introduction
Education is the process of learning and changing as a result of schooling and other experiences.
Special education is instruction designed for students with disabilities or gifts and talents who also
have special learning needs. Some of these students have difficulty in learning in regular classrooms;
they need special education to function in school. Others generally do well in regular classrooms,
but they need special education to help them master certain skills to reach their full potential in
school.
Students are considered exceptional when they (1) meet the criteria for being classified as exceptional
and (2) require a modification of school practices, or special educational services, to develop to
maximum capacity. A disability results from a medical, social, or learning difficulty that interferes
significantly with the student's normal growth and development, such as the ability to profit from
schooling experiences or the ability to participate successfully in work activities. Special education
is evidence of society's willingness to recognize and respond to the individual needs of students and
the limits of regular school programs to accommodate those needs.

1.1 Concept of Special Education

Special education is instruction that is specially designed to meet the unique needs of a child with
a disability. This means education that is individually developed to address a specific child's needs
that result from his or her disability. Since each child is unique, it is difficult to give an overall
example of special education. It is individualized for each child. A disability results from a medical,
social, or learning difficulty that interferes significantly with the student's normal growth and
development, such as the ability to profit.

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 1