Reading Achievement?

Question

Why do you think students with disabilities are not achieving in the area of reading (Secondary Level)?

Answer 1

By the time they get to fourth grade, the focus shifts to reading comprehension instead of basic reading skills. There is so little time for teaching basic skills that the struggling readers often get left behind with no chance to catch up.

Answer 2

Honestly,  I never thought I would say this but I think that they have historically not achieved as well because "we" have not expected them to-we have had low expectations.  The reason I say this is that I have seen what happens when you have high expectations.

Our school started a co-teaching program where the majority of our special education students are in the general ed classroom with general ed peers learning grade level curriculum.  There are 2 teachers in the class (1 general ed, 1 special ed)-both fully responsible for every aspect of the class (teaching the lesson, grading papers, helping gen and special ed students alike). 93% of the special education students we had take the standard state reading test (on grade level)passed.  For many of them it was their first time ever to take it, in previous years they took below grade level tests.

Seriously, I have seen what happens when you expect students with disabilities to succeed and give them the opportunity and tools to do so.