When master carpenter Perry Wilson showed his friend's son how to build a tree house, he discovered that he was really teaching the child the value of mathematics. The task brought to mind his own struggles with a learning disability and the failure of his school to help him realize his potential. As a result, Wilson quit his job and established If I Had a Hammer, a program that uses alternative methods, specifically the construction of a small house, to show kids how to put the material they are learning in school to work. Assistive Devices Help Challenged Kids Get the Most from Learning Thanks to technology, students with physical and mental challenges have access to thousands of devices to help make learning easier. In this Education World article, writer Sherril Steele-Carlin talks about assistive technology with parents and teachers who use the technology, and with those who provide it to schools.
Successful inclusion meets the needs of all children.
This specal section of the Parents Community has lots of great resources targeted at parents. A new book goes a long way toward helping teachers develop strategies that work with special needs children in the regular primary classroom. The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education provides the funding for this clearinghouse of educational policy at the national, regional, and state levels. This site provides resources and information for educators, parents, teens, and others on such topics as health care, depression, parenting, and career planning. Users can pose questions, read articles, and view resources on mental health issues.