How Students Can Benefit From Special Needs Schools

Special needs schools provide a uniquely tailored learning experience for children with learning disabilities. Everything from teaching credentials to classroom décor is hand selected to create the optimal learning environment for students with very specific needs. This intense focus on individual success can be overwhelming to larger, public schools whose main objective is integration and standardization. For specialized academic institutions, it’s not about conforming the students to meet the needs of the system; it’s about adapting the system to meet the needs of each student.

At the same time, special needs schools face the obstacle taking teaching methods constructed on a case-by-case basis and implementing them on a much broader scale. In short, the needs of one student cannot be met by sacrificing the needs of another. To accommodate the needs of all children and promote the optimal level of success, these institutions utilize a smaller classroom setting. With less of a discrepancy in the teacher to student ratio, more individual attention can be given. The more one-on-one instruction, the more your child learns.

These instructors are chosen for their qualifications. Most have certifications and accreditations, but the truly qualified have specialized degrees and many years of experience working with children. Some specialize in special education in general, while others may have extensive knowledge of specific disorders or disabilities such as Asperger’s syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or dyslexia. The more intimately the instructor knows about the disability, the better suited they are to teach your child.

Children with learning disorders are often overwhelmed in a traditional classroom setting. While competing with 30 other students for attention and support, these children are often left behind academically. Or, on the other hand, these students can often be mislabeled as troublemakers. When frustrated or overwhelmed, it is not uncommon for children to act out. At special needs schools, the staff is equipped to recognize the needs of children, but also their strengths. A child who acts out is not passed off by way of disciplinary action.

This again is the double edge sword, meeting the needs of individuals, without sacrificing the needs of the group. Special needs schools are able to assist students who feel the need to act out, preserving the learning environment for other children in the class. The instructors are equipped to assist these students because they have a better understanding of the intentions behind the student’s actions.

So, consider the possibilities for your child. Is being in a large classroom hurting their chances for academic success? Would a smaller, specialized institution be better equipped to meet your son or daughter’s needs while recognizing their strengths?