This article is from page 24 of the 2008-07-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 24 JPG
CLARE’S Brothers of Charity, which is leading the way in helping people live with disabilities, is now explor- ing changes in the role of education.
The charity, which is the first in the country to assist people to live in the community and make their own deci- sions about where and how they live, is trying to break the mould when it comes to special education.
The organisation held a special con- ference in Ennis last week which was addressed by those who see a more inclusive way forward for education.
Cyndi Pitonyak, a special educa- tion co-ordinator for a school district in Virginia and a lecturer at Bradford University, does not believe that spe- cial education should be a segregated place.
The college lecturer is advocating an inclusive programme for children with disabilities that gets rid of spe- cial units and special schools.
“The relevant question is what do they do in those units? What do they do that they cannot do in regular
classes?” she asked.
For the last 19 years Ms Pitonyak has worked in a school system where both the class curriculum teacher and the remedial teacher work together teaching all students.
Children with special needs take part in the regular class programme by completing lessons that work in unison with the rest of the class.
Ms Pitonyak gave the example that while children are being called to read aloud, a child who may not have very good reading abilities and needs to work on people recognition could call out those that are to read in turn.
Each person is benefiting from the class and learning.
The education co-ordinator admits however that there will be times when a child with disabilities may not be able to find a niche in a par- ticular lesson. At this point the child could leave the class for special tu1- tion in areas of need.
“It is about inclusion. Autism or any disability is just one little piece of who someone 1s,” she said.
At the conference in the Temple Gate Hotel last week 55 people from 13 different organisations joined the Brothers of Charity.
Those attending came from all ar- eas of education including special needs assistants, class teachers and school inspectors.
They heard that while major chang- es cannot be achieved overnight, and trial and error is going to be part of the course, a little change everyday is ee Nm NNR BES.S
Ms Pitonyak believes that if teach- ers and resource teachers agree to work together for 45 minutes, two days a week it could start a new way of education, that would lead to teams teaching a class rather than an individual.
“Tt is about creating a school where everyone fits,” she said.