Learning Differently: Each Learner Has A Unique Value

A child may have an auditory or visual handicap. One student may not speak, a different student may not have sight. A kid might be hearing impaired, or another may have cognitive interferences. A learner may best learn through different venue, but each learner has a unique value.
http://www.smartkidswithld.org/
Family and school supply learning opportunities for kids at all levels of ability. http://sitemaker.umich.edu/cooper.356/teachers   I have found that no matter what the 'label' a student has, he's smart in his unique way and it is my assignment as teacher to surround him with the necessary environment and stimulation to learn. http://specialed.about.com/cs/teacherstrategies/a/Strategies.htm I've been privileged to teach all levels of learners, from the profoundly handicapped, to severely handicapped, to mild and moderately handicapped to everyone else, including the gifted, who are exceptional in their own way. Busy, busy, busy! But amazing.
http://specialed.about.com/od/physicaldisabilities/a/severe.htm

Communication- helping the kids have a voice- is totally the most important task a teacher has. The one, single issue for students that has settled as Numero Uno in my teacher's mind involves quality of life: does the child have choices? How can a child have choices if she can't communicate?
 http://deafness.about.com/cs/deafculture/a/deafculture101.htm
I won't lie. Teaching the handicapped is complex, intense, plus you have to deal with all those grown-ups (Special Ed. meetings and such.) It is the Navy Seal job of teaching.http://www.superduperinc.com/handouts/pdf/77_ABC_IEP.pdf
But what a profound experience to communicate with an autistic student. I always feel so privileged that he will make eye contact with me. Or teaching a severely handicapped student that couldn't see or speak to sign thirty words. Finally he could tell us he really didn't like music, but loved the mini trampoline.
 http://www.the-parenting-magazine.com/tag/special-education/

We teach in a team, the team made up of family, teachers and staff at school--not to mention the student's friends, church, babysitter, cousins, even pets. The teaching staff and support staff in the district where I teach are amazing experts, and I am confident to ask for help in areas I don't think my knowledge is as advanced as it needs to be. Not one of us has all the expertise for our student. We provide the learning network supporting her throughout the day because living her life is her educational program.

http://sitemaker.umich.edu/cooper.356/teachers

Good to learn! First we sing our ABCs then we sign them.