Education K-12 Special Education & Inclusion 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'dyslexia' and how does it primarily affect students?
- A vision disorder causing letter reversal
- A language-based learning disability affecting accurate and fluent word recognition and decoding (Correct answer)
- An intellectual disability affecting all academic areas
- A disorder causing difficulty with handwriting only
Correct answer: A language-based learning disability affecting accurate and fluent word recognition and decoding
Dyslexia is a neurobiological condition affecting phonological processing, making reading and spelling challenging despite adequate intelligence.
Question 2: What is ADHD and how does it most commonly present in school-aged children?
- A behavioral disorder caused by poor parenting
- A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity affecting school functioning (Correct answer)
- A learning disability specific to math
- A temporary condition that resolves by adolescence
Correct answer: A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity affecting school functioning
ADHD affects executive function, attention regulation, and impulse control, creating challenges in structured academic settings.
Question 3: Under IDEA, which category covers students on the autism spectrum?
- Other Health Impairment (OHI)
- Emotional Disturbance (ED)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (Correct answer)
- Multiple Disabilities (MD)
Correct answer: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Autism is its own eligibility category under IDEA, defined by challenges in social communication and restricted/repetitive behaviors.
Question 4: What does 'sensory processing disorder' mean for students in the classroom?
- Difficulty reading due to poor eyesight
- Difficulty organizing and responding appropriately to sensory information from the environment (Correct answer)
- A hearing impairment requiring sign language
- Hypersensitivity to sunlight
Correct answer: Difficulty organizing and responding appropriately to sensory information from the environment
Students with sensory processing differences may be over- or under-responsive to sensory input, affecting focus and behavior in school.
Question 5: What is 'assistive technology' (AT) in special education?
- Classroom computers for all students
- Any item or system that helps a student with a disability perform tasks they could not otherwise do (Correct answer)
- Internet access for low-income families
- Educational software for enrichment
Correct answer: Any item or system that helps a student with a disability perform tasks they could not otherwise do
AT ranges from low-tech (pencil grips, graphic organizers) to high-tech (speech-to-text software, AAC devices) and is written into IEPs when needed.
Question 6: What is 'self-contained classroom' placement in special education?
- A classroom with no windows for focus
- A specialized classroom where students with disabilities receive most of their instruction separately from general education peers (Correct answer)
- An independent study option for advanced students
- A classroom that uses project-based learning only
Correct answer: A specialized classroom where students with disabilities receive most of their instruction separately from general education peers
Self-contained settings serve students whose needs cannot be met in less restrictive environments; students may still integrate for non-academic activities.
Education K-12 Special Education & Inclusion 2
What is 'dyslexia' and how does it primarily affect students?