Sensitivity Training

For working with Special Education

Students

Math Test
The staff will pass out a math sheet face down
You will be instructed to raise your dominant hand

and sit on it
When directed, turn over the math sheet, put your
first and last name on it, then begin solving problems
using your non-dominant hand
You will be given one minute to complete the
worksheet
Prize awarded to the person who accurately
completes the most problems on the sheet

Spelling Test
Number your paper 1-15
Take the Test

Check Your Work

1. Tomorrow
9. Account
2. Committee 10. Mischief
3. Absorb 11. Melody
4. Nuisance
12. Mediocre
5. Jealous 13. Miscellaneous
6. Salmon 14. Rural
7. Symptom
15. Frustrating
8. Welfare

After the Tests

How did you all feel during these

activities?
Who felt they did their best/showed their

true abilities?

This is How Things are for Special

Education Students all the time
The Math test represents what it is like for

any students with motor planning problems or

a math learning disability
Doing 2 cognitive processes at the same time
for them is often difficult
The spelling test represents what it is like for
any students with auditory processing
difficulties/sensitivities or attention issues
Students with ASD are not experiencing their
environment like everyone else

What could we have done differently?

Suggest what you would have wanted

what would have helped you succeed?

How could the math test been
specifically accommodated
for/modified?
How could the spelling test/conditions
specifically been accommodated
for/modified?

Some Suggestions
For math test, instead of writing, using

P-touch (label maker), or word

processor
Less math problems/spelling words
More time
Who used any fidgets yet today?

Reminders
Some of this may not be new to you
We need to be continually reminded, its

easy to forget within our hectic daily

routine

Are you motivated?

The facilitator will pick two staff volunteers to

participate
The volunteers will come to the front of the
room
The volunteers will follow the facilitators
direction to complete the activity
The volunteers are not allowed to use any
modifications at all to complete the activity

Motivation vs. Ability

Were the participants motivated?
How many times do we ask students to just

try harder without giving them any tools?

Some students do not have the ability to
complete specific tasks assigned in the
classroom
With the support of our team, we must
differentiate between ability and motivation
Motivation is typically not the issue

Fairness
Have to let go of the idea of what is fair in

comparison to the rest of the class

We are expected to individualize
instruction
This does not mean they are getting
special treatment they are getting what
they need to succeed
Fair does not mean equal

Student Sensitivity Training

Even if we all understand why we are

doing things differently for a student

with special needs who wont?
How will we teach their peers?
5 minutes grade level
discussion/brainstorm, followed by
sharing
Handouts

Q&A
Questions?
Comments?