Special education is becoming increasingly relevant, as a significant portion of students experience learning difficulties such as dyslexia or ADHD. Therefore, it is vital that teachers are familiar with diversity in the classroom to avoid affecting the developmental process of childhood learning, since all children have the same right to education.
Additionally, we must encourage tolerance of diversity within families, so that learning processes, behavior, and social relationships flow better regardless of each student’s psychomotor development conditions. In teaching, being able to address diversity in the classroom is crucial. From neuroscience, we have evidence on how early intervention is a key opportunity to offer these children their best future development, both in instrumental learning and in emotions and feelings.
Special educational needs require new ways of identifying and addressing learning difficulties and developmental disorders. In this sense, neuropsychology offers a new paradigm from which to respond to this need.
Dr. Estrella Alfonso, director of the University Master’s Degree in Special Educational Needs and Early Intervention
What is special education?
Special education is also known as differential education, although this is less common. It is an area of pedagogy focused on imparting knowledge to people with intellectual, physical, motor, sensory, or psychological disabilities that may hinder the learning process, and therefore require a special approach, taught by a teacher trained for it.
Current teaching strategies make teachers more aware that, to achieve better learning, it is necessary to adapt to the needs of individuals according to their condition, allowing maximum inclusion and eliminating any limitations in the learning process.
It is important to note that special education does not simplify the content, does not cut it short, nor exclude topics; what it does is implement accessible methodologies to the special needs of each student. Knowing this is the first step to allowing diversity in the classroom. It is not about minimizing knowledge, but about generating strategies through which everyone can learn.
The importance of understanding and teaching about diversity in the classroom
Special education is the foundation of inclusion, and inclusion is the main focus of diversity in the classroom; that is, it makes it possible for everyone to have access to the same opportunities regardless of their physical or mental limitations. The idea of this area is to put essential knowledge within the reach of students so that they can achieve their goals.
A great positive aspect of special education is that students will feel more motivated by contact and interaction with people in similar conditions, which in the long term protects against emotional problems and social limitations.
On the other hand, by understanding and teaching about diversity in the classroom, you will be changing society and the world; because you will turn a school into a meeting place for all personal realities, where everyone has the same right to intellectual enrichment. It is important to help children learn new forms of coexistence; the teacher is a fundamental guide that sets the standard for acceptance and understanding.
Let’s take children as an example, who have fewer limitations when interacting, do not create barriers, and do not discriminate.
If you are dedicated to it, give the totally online and flexible Master’s Degree in Special Educational Needs a chance, and start promoting diversity!
