PARAEDUCATORS IMPACT ON INDEPENDENT LIVING

Schooling is a big part of a person's independence. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requires schools to provide needed accommodations and modifications to students with disabilities to enable equal access to education. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that students with disabilities receive free appropriate public education specific to their needs.

Disabilities that students have vary and can include learning disabilities, physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, communication disorders, emotional disabilities, developmental disabilities, etc.

It's important to understand that not everyone with a disability requires the same accommodations. For example, not everyone with a learning needs the same accommodations, not everyone with a physical disability (for example spina bifida) needs the same accommodations and not everyone with autism needs the same accommodations etc.

Often times enabling a student with a disability to have equal access to education requires having a Paraeducator in the student's classrooms. Paraeducators can be a crucial part of a student's education. They don't just provide one on one service to their student(s) teaching a specific subject. Paraeducators have many different roles. A paraeducator may work in special education classrooms, resource rooms or in mainstream classrooms.

Each student has different goals. Their goals are identified in their IEP’s (Individualized Education Program). The assistance that the paraeducator provides varies from student to student based upon those goals. The goals often times include adjusting lesson plans to meet the student's needs, providing social and emotional support, providing physical assistance as well as many other things.

When paraeducators work with their student(s) in the mainstream classes they often times work with students who don't have disabilities. They may need to work with other students to redirect them and keep them on task at the same time they are working with their student(s) on de-escalation when they are upset.

Equity and People with Disabilities

I decided to become a social worker and ADA coordinator because I wanted to work with individuals with disabilities on independent living. I wanted to work with people on self-confidence teaching them that they CAN be contributing members of society. Disabilities have always been a big part of my life. Not only do I use a wheelchair, but I have learning disabilities and epilepsy.

When it comes to enabling people with disabilities to be contributing members of society you don't need to think of just equality. It isn't just making sure places have ramps etc. It is both disability equity and equality.

Equality is having the same resources or opportunities for everyone, no matter what their individual needs are. Equity is understanding that there are individual differences and providing resources to meet those specific needs. Disability equality is ensuring that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as people without disabilities. Disability equity addresses barriers and provides additional support to those with disabilities. Equality might lead to unequal outcomes if individuals have different situations. Equity seeks to achieve fair outcomes. Equality might mean everyone receives the same things whether they have a disability or not. Equity would provide additional resources enabling equal outcomes. Equity may require listening to individuals with disabilities to understand their unique challenges and needs. Understand that equity doesn't mean a person with a disability isn't looking for handouts. They want the same opportunity as everyone else.