Hi Gift,
Thanks for your positive remarks. One thing I will let you know is that there are systems in place here in the USA for the special needs students up to college level, and everything works for the education goal and development of the special needs student, the approach is unique each child because the students have different learning needs, also, there are different approaches to education services as it differs from state to state and from county to county here in the USA, than Africa, but what I'll like to share with you is that, we are not doing badly too in African, either with health or educational services, meaning in Africa, we have highly skilled human resources, this paved way for someone like me after working with the government and non-for-profit for over forty-five years in Nigeria.
In Africa, one is familiar with the local systems, and you can always work with stakeholders at different levels of government and at community level including the primary stakeholders. Only you have to be a strong advocate, and our leaders should be made accountable for good governance.
America has systems in place, and officers in charge of different units of the school systems, however all working as a team for the overall goal, the academic and behavioral success of the students. Each student's academic performance is monitored by the teacher, through a state designed Individual Evaluation Plan (IEP), this involves setting goals for each student, which is monitored periodically, to see if the child is achieving the set educational goal, which could be increased or scaled down given tools to enhance the students' performance. Also, the have state assessments tests. Likewise, the behavioral progress is monitored, setting individual behavioral plans and goals through the Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) Students are rewarded if they achieve a certain point on their point sheets, there is a school store to pick awards, school Boutique for some to pick donated clothing.
Also, some of these schools have residential services, what we call boarding houses in Africa.
Students who go into crises are sometimes restrained and a time away in the resource room if the students is posing a risk to other students, and staff, the time away is for self-reflection, until he or she reflects and changes positively, the aim is not to punish but to regulate behavior, such students return to class.
Staff have periodic different capacity building training to keep up with the standard of practices.
The difference is that you have resources to work with, to promote students' learning.
All resources for special needs education are online, and you can request for resources from international non-for-profit working with the special needs students at all educational levels.
All the very best in your work.
Regards
Remi Akinmade, MCommH
HIFA profile: Remi Akinmade is Executive Director of Community Health Information Education Forum (CHIEF), Nigeria. Professional interests: Community Health, Primary Health Care, Maternal Neonatal Child Health (MNCH), Adolescent/Youth Health, STI/HIV/AIDS, Breast/Cervical Cancer, Advocacy, Rights of women, children, Capacity Building - training, empowerment programs, Male involvement. remi.akinmade AT chiefngo.org