Accessing the General Curriculum for Students with Learning Disabilities: Challenges and Opportunities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52634/mier/2014/v4/i1/1491Keywords:
Access to Curriculum, Special Educational Needs, Learning Disabilities, Botswana, Multi-level Model.Abstract
Every student has a right to access the general curriculum to realize the aims of education for sustainable development. Accessing the general curriculum remains a critical component in the teaching and learning process of learners with learning disabilities and difficulties. Existing literature indicates that teachers must use suitable strategies to accommodate curriculum needs for students with learning disabilities and difficulties. This paper analyses how curriculum access for students with learning disabilities and difficulties has been promoted and achieved in the context of Botswana. The focus of this paper is therefore to outline the progress made so far towards enhancing curriculum access to the general education curriculum for learners with disabilities and difficulties.
Downloads
Metrics
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2021 Serefete Molosiwa, Sourav Mukhopadhyay, Emmanuel Moswela
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The articles published in the MIER Journal of Educational Studies, Trends and Practics (MJESTP) are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
- Copyright on any open access article in the MIER Journal of Educational Studies, Trends and Practics (MJESTP) published by Model Institute of Education and Research (MIER) is retained by the author(s).
- Author(s) grant MIER a license to publish the article and identify himself/herself/themselves as the original publisher.
- Authors also grant any third party the right to use the article freely as long as its integrity is maintained and its original authors, citation details and publisher are identified.
- The Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 formalizes these and other terms and conditions of publishing articles.
References
Bowe, F. G. (2000). Universal design in education: Teaching non traditional students. Westport, CT: Bergin & Garvey.
Dymond, S. K., Renzaglia, A., Gilson, C. L., & Slagor, M. T. (2007). Defining access to the general curriculum for high school students with significant cognitive dabilities. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities (RPSD) , 1, 1-15.
English, F. (1992). Successful schools series: Vol. 4. Deciding what to teach and test: Developing, aligning, and auditing the curriculum. Newbury Park, CA: Corwin Press.
Giangreco, M.F. (2007). Extending inclusive: How can students with disabilities meaningfully participate in the class if they work many levels below classroom peers? Educational Leadership, 34-37.
Government of Botswana. (1993). The national commission on education. Gaborone: Government Printers.
Government of Botswana. (1994). Revised national policy on education. Gaborone: Government Printers.
Karande, S., & Kulkarni, M. (2005). Poor school performance. Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 72, 961-967.
Kisanji, J., Mthunzi, C., Khame, D., Chipazi, L., Ramaribana, V., & Makgonatsotlhe, P. (2003). Situational analysis for the adaptation and modification of the basic and senior secondary curriculum for hearingimpaired learners. Gaborone: Curriculum Development and Evaluation Department.
Lance, G. D., & Wehmeyer, M. L. (2001). Universal design checklist. Lawrence, KS: Beach Center on Disability, University of Kansas.
Mhlanga, E. (2008). Quality assurance in higher education in southern africa: the case of the universities of the witwatersrand, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of the Witwatersrand, Pretoria. Retrieved from http://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/bitstream /handle/10539/7599/PhD%20Thesis%20Quality%20Assurance%20 in%20Higher%20Education.pdf?sequence=1.
Ministry of Education. (2002). A report on the proceedings of the recommendation 122 seminar. Francistown: Curriculum Development and Evaluation Department. Gaborone: Government Printers.
Orkwis, R., & McLane, K. (1998). A curriculum every student can use: Design principles for student access. ERIC/OSEP Topical Brief, Reston, VA: Council for Exceptional Children.
Pansisri, N. O. (2011). Silent Exclusion: The unheard voices in remote areas of Botswana. International Journal of Education Science, 3(2), 109-118.
Rossetti, R. (2006). The seven principles of universal design. United Spinal Association. Retrieved April 11 from http://www.udll.com/mediaroom/ articles/the-seven-principles-of-universal-design/.
Schirmer, B.R. (2000). Language and literacy development in children who are in deaf schools. Cambridge: University of Cambridge.
Scruggs, E., & Mastropieri, M.A. (1994). Science for students with disabilities. Review of Educational Research, 62, 377 – 411.
Scruggs, E., Mastropieri, M.A., & Magnusen, L. (2006). Activities – oriented science instruction for students with disabilities. Learning Disability Quarterly, 22, 240 – 263.
Soukup, J. H. (2012). Classroom variables and access to the general curriculum for students with disabilities. Exceptional Children, 101-120.
Spooner, F., & Browner, D.M. (2006). Teaching language arts, math, and science to students with significant cognitive disabilities. Baltimore: Pault Brookes.
Stainback, W., Stainback, S., Stefanich, G., & Alper, S. (1996). Learning in inclusive classrooms: What about the curriculum? In S. Stainback & W. Stainback (Eds.), Inclusion: A guide for educators (pp. 209-219). Baltimore: Brookes.
Tabulawa, R., (1997). Teachers' perspectives on classroom practice in Botswana: Implications pedagogical change. Gaborone: Ministry of Education.
Udvari-Solner, A. (1993). Curricular adaptations: Accommodating the instructional needs of diverse learners in the context of general education. Topeka, KS: Kansas State Board of Education. Newbury Park, CA: Corwin Press.
Wehmeyer, M.L., & Agran, M.(2006). Teaching language arts, math, & science to students with significant cognitive disabilities. Baltimore: P. H. Brookes Publishers.
Wehmeyer, M.L., Lance, D., & Bashinski, S. (2002). Promoting access to the general curriculum for students with mental retardation: A multi level model. Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 37(3), 223-234.
Wehmeyer, M. L., Sands, D. J., Knowlton, H. E., & Kozleski, E. B. (2002). Teaching students with mental retardation: Accessing the general curriculum. Baltimore: Paul H.
Wehmeyer, M.L., Lattin, D., & Agran, M. (2001). Achieving access to the general curriculum for students with mental retardation: A curriculum decisionmaking model. Baltimore: P. H. Brookes Publishers.