Chapter 1 Reflections

    The readings in chapter one not only on provided a brief background on mild disabilities in Special Education, but also focused on the history of Special Education. In describing where Special Education began and how it has progressed, the chapter also highlights hopes and goals for the future of Special Education in our country and the world.
      The beginning of the chapter discussed mild disabilities, the importance of language, and labeling vs. classifying. Under the section about mild disabilities, one point that really stuck out to me was actually the title of the section, "Mild does not mean 'not serious'". Though I recognized before that mild disabilities were to be taken seriously, that distinction really stood out to me. I agree that many times, "mild" can be thought of as "not that bad", which, in the case of Special Education, can lead to students with "mild" disabilities to be viewed negatively as not trying, "different", or less-than-capable of achieving.  I feel that if more people were aware of the fact that "mild" disabilities are to be taken seriously and truly do influence a student's life, the attitude towards those disabilities would change for the better. I also agree strongly with the chapter's emphasis on "people-first language", as well as the distinction between "disability" and "handicap". That distinction is one that I have wondered about many times, especially when considering things like "handicap" parking spots and entrances. The idea that a "disability" is the actual ability, and a "handicap" is the interaction with an unforgiving environment definitely makes sense to me, and cleared up the distinction between disability and handicap in my mind.
      The discussion of the history of Special Education was also interesting to me. It is amazing how much Special Education has improved over the past century, and that fact makes me very hopeful for the future of the field of Special Education. While there is still a long way to go until inclusion is implemented fairly and effectively, this chapter called attention to the great strides made in Special Education and in rights for people with special needs in general. To think that at some point in human history people with special needs were hidden or killed is shocking and saddening, but at the same time proves that progress has happened, is happening, and will continue to happen. Overall, though there are still many flaws in the implementation of a highly-effective Special Education system, as more people become aware of the many abilities of students with exceptionalities, the education system will continue to improve.