BEd Bachelor of Education Bachelor of Education Inclusive Education and Special Needs 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has difficulty with transitions between activities. Which strategy is most effective?
- Eliminating all transitions by keeping one activity all day
- Using visual schedules and advance warnings before transitions (Correct answer)
- Requiring immediate compliance without prior notice
- Ignoring transition difficulties to encourage independence
Correct answer: Using visual schedules and advance warnings before transitions
Visual schedules and advance warnings reduce anxiety around transitions by making time expectations concrete and predictable for students with ASD.
Question 2: What is 'response to intervention' (RTI) designed to do in the context of special education?
- Automatically qualify struggling students for special education services
- Use data-driven tiers of instruction to identify and support students before formal special education referral (Correct answer)
- Replace IEPs with informal classroom modifications
- Provide therapy services for students with physical disabilities
Correct answer: Use data-driven tiers of instruction to identify and support students before formal special education referral
RTI uses a multi-tier system to provide increasingly intensive interventions based on student data before initiating a special education evaluation.
Question 3: A student who is deaf is mainstreamed in a general education classroom. Which related service most directly supports full participation?
- Speech-language therapy three times per week
- Educational interpreter or real-time captioning services (Correct answer)
- Orientation and mobility instruction
- Occupational therapy for fine motor skills
Correct answer: Educational interpreter or real-time captioning services
An educational interpreter or real-time captioning provides access to spoken instruction for students who are deaf in a general education setting.
Question 4: Which practice exemplifies culturally responsive teaching in an inclusive special education setting?
- Using the same instructional materials regardless of student background
- Incorporating students' cultural references and funds of knowledge into instruction and assessment (Correct answer)
- Avoiding discussions of cultural identity to prevent discomfort
- Grouping students by cultural background for separate instruction
Correct answer: Incorporating students' cultural references and funds of knowledge into instruction and assessment
Culturally responsive teaching connects instruction to students' lived experiences and cultural knowledge, improving engagement and learning outcomes.
Question 5: What is the key difference between a modification and an accommodation for a student with a disability?
- Accommodations change what is learned; modifications change how it is demonstrated
- Modifications change the content or expectations; accommodations change how a student accesses or demonstrates learning (Correct answer)
- Both terms are interchangeable under IDEA
- Modifications apply only to students with physical disabilities
Correct answer: Modifications change the content or expectations; accommodations change how a student accesses or demonstrates learning
Modifications alter the curriculum or grade-level expectations, while accommodations change delivery or response format without changing the standard.
Question 6: A student with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) returns to school after hospitalization. Which initial step is most important for the education team?
- Immediately placing the student on the same academic track as before the injury
- Conducting a re-entry assessment to understand current cognitive and academic functioning (Correct answer)
- Referring the student exclusively to homebound instruction
- Waiting for complete medical recovery before beginning school services
Correct answer: Conducting a re-entry assessment to understand current cognitive and academic functioning
A thorough re-entry assessment identifies how the TBI has affected the student's cognitive, behavioral, and academic functioning to plan appropriate supports.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes 'person-first language' in special education?
- Always using a student's first name before their last name in documents
- Referring to the person before their disability (e.g., 'student with autism' rather than 'autistic student') (Correct answer)
- Addressing parents before students in IEP meetings
- Using informal nicknames to build rapport with students
Correct answer: Referring to the person before their disability (e.g., 'student with autism' rather than 'autistic student')
Person-first language emphasizes the individual's humanity before their disability, reflecting respect and dignity in professional communication.
BEd Bachelor of Education Bachelor of Education Inclusive Education and Special Needs 5
A student with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has difficulty with transitions between activities.
Which strategy is most effective?