Class Reflection
This class was full of the most critical areas to work on for the students with special needs and full of essential take-outs for myself. It’s interesting to read the history of disability but not only about the leaders and turning points in the field, but knowing the hardpoints that made these laws to get passed and effective. The elements and discussed topics during this class were full of information that moved us from point to another point. Within the disabilities studies the labeling for individuals with disabilities might go into different ways just by the use of this label, can we remove these labels? Is it essential to have the tags? Discussing the importance of tags in the identification of individual needs for various parties is one of the most elaborate discussions I have experienced. These labels won’t change the fact of their disabilities. Still, they might help other people around individuals to understand the nature of the needs that these individual needs can be addressed for more accessibility to the community. From labeling to the modules taking a position of an educator in the field of special education, I found myself in the middle between the two models ” medical and social” these two models will work correctly together if we implementing it consistently
It’s interesting to read about different countries’ policies. Laws and regulations were not natural to establish, especially in the particular education field. These laws and regulations had some difficulties in taking action into individuals with special needs. During the class period, we went through different policies and different ideas about what we think and what it’s the reality of special education. By exploring the systems around the world and writing about the Saudi Regulations of Special Education Programs and Institutes adds a lot to my knowledge and connection to what I’m studying now. Looking at other models and different countries’ perspectives toward the education sector for individuals with special needs. Exploring the policies was a significant part of this class; I wish we had more time to explore each plan in depth. Understanding the strategies in the field in the US can open another opportunity for other countries to build a better system. Even after being in the states for more than five years, I still don’t know a lot of the policies and regulations regards the particular education program in all the states. Connecting these policies with the real world would be another great area to explore and discuss. I enjoyed writing the policy paper, and I discover a lot of new information in my country regulation.
Reading in different areas in the field expand my knowledge out of my area of interest, at the same time its connection with my field in some way. Working in a university will give me the privilege of changing the system within my college toward students with disabilities. Also, it makes me in charge of advocating for students with disabilities. In Saudi Arabia, the laws and regulations are underrepresented for individuals with disabilities, which could cause the individual to lose some of their rights, especially in education. The right to be educated is one of the essential rights in the educational system. But because of the lack of knowledge of these laws and regulations, this right is not fully implemented.
Disability studies is a vast field to discuss. And as an educator, we need to make sure that we are advocating and representing the values that the individuals are fighting to get, such as accessibility, employment which is an important filed to work on in KSA and transition. These fields represent the next level of our student’s lives that we don’t know that much about it. From my perspective, I have never thought about what is the next step for the student after high school. This field is underrepresented in KSA, and we need a lot of work to serve these students. And as an educator, I should be the change for these students.
This semester was full of ups and downs for us, and I believe that it was harder for students with disabilities. From this situation, educators need to address the importance of technology for students with disabilities, just in case another problematic time will happen. We are preparing the teachers to work on their crisis management and be ready for these challenging times. Also, making the student for these situations can be helpful with the process of learning. I know that the majority of the students with disabilities in KSA are falling behind with this pandemic, so we need to make sure that in the nearest future, we are ready to make sure that our students are on track even from a distance.
This semester was a challenge, but it was full of valuable information for the future. The variety of topics, the differences between us as a class, made a great combination of ideas that could lead in the nearest future to change the educational system in different countries. The differences between us as a class bring a different understanding to the same topics, which added to my knowledge a lot just by listening to other prospective.
Lastly, the field of special education is a vast, complicated field that involves everyone in it somehow. For a better future to be achieved in the area, we need to know the past and the present to change the future. It is essential to understand the history of disabilities from a different angle, the culture of the disability, and listen to the individuals and their families and what they want. By combining the different perspectives to advocate for disability rights, we will have a better society, better services, and better life.
Thank you for this exciting class and topic, I enjoyed every moment, and I wish that we can make a difference in the field based on what we discuss in the class.