Ivan: I 1240...GO

[ivan]

pretty much what jim says - there's a huge diversity in special ed pops, from kids who'd you'd never think were anyway different from regular ed to kids w/ profound handicaps like down's syndrome

 

the "high needs" kids usually are full-time in special-ed classes, but the large number of other kids w/ issues like aspergers, autism, dyslexia, brain-injuries, etc. etc. usually have a lot of "inclusion" classes, where they are like any other regular kid but usually have another adult assigned to help them out during class, plus a single period a day w/ a special ed teacher to get help w/ their regular ed class

 

much of this is the result of numerous lawsuits centered around the american's w/ disabilities act and similar laws requiring public accomodation for people with a vast array of handicaps - the result, as mentioned, is largely positive as regular ed kids now are much kinder to the peers they used to never see and special ed kids are less stigmatized and have opportunities that didn't used to be open to them

 

some of my more successful students have been special ed kids - the disabilities they have often cause them to learn compensation skills (like working hard and being positive about life)