Special Education Meaning

1) Special needs education is the form of education planned for the students with special needs in a way that addresses the students individual differences and needs.

2)Special education means specially designed instructions that meet the unusual needs of the exceptional students.

3)Special education is individualized education for children with special needs.

4)Special education means specially designed instruction, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability.

5)Special education  requires three elements-Trained professionals, Special curriculum and Infrastructure facilities.

Scope of special education

1)In terms of types of children with disabilities special education covers children with visual handicaps (blind and low vision children), hearing handicaps (deaf and hard-of-hearing children), mental retardation (mentally challenged children), learning disability (reading, disability, writing disability and numerical disability), speech handicaps (auditory disorder, vocal disorder, stuttering, cleft palate, etc.), and multiple handicaps. 

2)  The scope of special education includes identification of disabled children based on physical and behavioural characteristics, assessment of such children (medical, psychological and functional assessment), their care and rehabilitation.

3)Placement of disabled children in the appropriate setting forms an important part of the scope of special education. Placement of disabled children in a particular setting depends upon the degree of disability, nature and extent of previous training and experience of the disabled child and his special educational needs.

4) The scope of special education includes various types of intervention measures such as, environmental, administrative, social and academic and various levels of intervention such as, preventive, remedial and compensatory efforts.

Objectives of Special Education

1) To help them in knowing and accepting themselves with their deficiencies.

2)To arrange for the guidance services of the parents with an eye to seek their cooperation in the education and adjustment of the exceptional children. 

3)To work for bringing educational opportunities for every exceptional child irrespective of his disability limitation or strength in one or the other areas of is development.

4) To help the exceptional children to learn and acquire necessary skills for their self-help, independent living and leading future life as properly as possible.

5) To help them to acquire necessary social skills, emotional literacy to live and participate in school, home and community life as properly as possible.

6)To help them in seeking their integration into the mainstream by providing them the least restrictive environment for their educational placement.

7)To help them in acquiring learning experiences and training by the use of materials, methods, techniques, aids and equipment, assistive devices, etc. 

8) To help them in seeking their successful transition from school to community and provide vocational and employment oriented training for being adjusted in the world of occupation.

9) To change the attitude of society in accepting them and identifying their needs. 

10) To utilize their contributions for the progress of the country and in turn increase their self-concept and status in society.