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    Unit 4 Written Assiignment R

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    Jackson Ltorisha
    This document discusses using Down syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder as case studies to raise awareness of disabilities among student teachers. While Down syndrome has been used, the document argues Autism Spectrum Disorder is a better option as it is more prevalent occurring in 1 in 68 births compared to Down syndrome which is 1 in 700. Autism Spectrum Disorder also elicits diverse negative feelings in students and provokes reactions from others. Therefore, using Autism Spectrum Disorder as a case study would better create awareness of disabilities in general for student teachers.

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    Unit 4 Written Assiignment R

    Uploaded by

    Jackson Ltorisha
    93 views4 pages
    This document discusses using Down syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder as case studies to raise awareness of disabilities among student teachers. While Down syndrome has been used, the document argues Autism Spectrum Disorder is a better option as it is more prevalent occurring in 1 in 68 births compared to Down syndrome which is 1 in 700. Autism Spectrum Disorder also elicits diverse negative feelings in students and provokes reactions from others. Therefore, using Autism Spectrum Disorder as a case study would better create awareness of disabilities in general for student teachers.

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    UNIT 4 WRITTEN ASSIIGNMENT R

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    This document discusses using Down syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder as case studies to raise awareness of disabilities among student teachers. While Down syndrome has been used, the document argues Autism Spectrum Disorder is a better option as it is more prevalent occurring in 1 in 68 births compared to Down syndrome which is 1 in 700. Autism Spectrum Disorder also elicits diverse negative feelings in students and provokes reactions from others. Therefore, using Autism Spectrum Disorder as a case study would better create awareness of disabilities in general for student teachers.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    93 views4 pages

    Unit 4 Written Assiignment R

    Uploaded by

    Jackson Ltorisha
    This document discusses using Down syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder as case studies to raise awareness of disabilities among student teachers. While Down syndrome has been used, the document argues Autism Spectrum Disorder is a better option as it is more prevalent occurring in 1 in 68 births compared to Down syndrome which is 1 in 700. Autism Spectrum Disorder also elicits diverse negative feelings in students and provokes reactions from others. Therefore, using Autism Spectrum Disorder as a case study would better create awareness of disabilities in general for student teachers.

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    Download as pdf or txt
    of 4

    1

    University of the People

    (EDUC 5710 – Understanding Barriers to Learning)

    Creating awareness among student teachers of disabilities with Down syndrome and Autism

    Dr. Jones: Instructor

    September 29, 2021


    2

    Down Syndrome has been defined as a genetic condition that causes mild to serious physical and

    developmental problems which lead to physical and mental lifelong condition (“What is Down

    syndrome?” 2017).

    In the article „Changing student teachers’ attitudes towards disability and inclusion‟, the main

    reason given by Campbell, Gilmore & Cuskelly (2003), for choosing Down Syndrome as a case

    study for student teachers‟ attitudes to disability in general, was that previous research according

    to Wishart & Manning, (1996), has demonstrated that student teachers hold a number of

    misconceptions about this disorder and its developmental consequences (p.2). Looking at the

    symptoms and manifestations of this disease, one may not need to go far in order to figure out

    the reason for these misconceptions. Down Syndrome has a wide range of effects on the

    students that have it. These effects cut across physical, mental, behavioral and health spheres.

    Having these diverse effects means that accommodating these students with Down Syndrome in

    the mainstream classroom/setting, poses greater challenges to teachers than students with other

    forms of disabilities. Also, considering it as a case study for raising awareness among student

    teachers towards inclusion, would automatically ensure that most other aspects of disabilities are

    covered whose effects may not be as widespread as that of Down syndrome.

    The disability that I would consider a more suitable option as a case study for raising awareness

    among student teachers of disabilities, towards disability and inclusion is, Autism Spectrum

    Disorder (ASD). American Psychiatric Association, (n.d.), has defined Autism Spectrum

    Disorder as “a complex developmental condition involving persistent challenges with social

    communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behavior”(para.1) and reports from Autism

    Society of America, disclose an increased frequency of autism and that it is the fastest growing

    developmental disability with estimates of 1 in 68 live births (Graetz & Sisson, 2016).
    3

    This data suggests that Autism Spectrum Disorder is a more prevalent disability than Down

    Syndrome which according to “Data and statistics on Down syndrome,“(2020), occurs in 1 out of

    every 700 babies born. If Autism Spectrum Disorder is more prevalent than Down Syndrome,

    then it could serve as a very good case study for raising awareness among student teachers for

    positive attitude towards students with disability. In addition, Graetz & Sisson (2016) reports that

    Autism Spectrum Disorder, manifests deficits in Social, Communication, Interests and Activities

    of the students with the disorder and that many of such individuals are victimized, feel

    marginalized, compare themselves unfavorably to their peers and feel a sense of frustration.

    These are feelings that cut across a wide range of individuals with other disabilities and as such,

    would be a very good option for the case study of raising awareness among student teachers

    of disabilities in general.

    In all, for the fact that Autism Spectrum Disorder has a higher frequency of occurrence than

    Down syndrome, elicits diverse negative feelings in the students with the disorder and commonly

    provokes negative reactions from other students towards them, make it a preferred option for me

    as a case study to create awareness among student teachers of disabilities in general.


    4

    References

    American Psychiatric Association. (n.d.). What Is Autism Spectrum


    Disorder? https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/autism/what-is-autism-spectrum-
    disorder

    Campbell, J., Gilmore, L., & Cuskelly, M. (2003, December). Changing student teachers‟
    attitudes towards disability and inclusion. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental
    Disability, 8(4), 369-379. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/4305/1/4305.pdf

    Data and statistics on Down syndrome. (2020, December 7). Centers for Disease Control and
    Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/downsyndrome/data.html

    Graetz, J., & Sisson, L. (2016, April 5). Autism spectrum disorder in the classroom [PowerPoint
    slides]. Oakland University. http://wwwp.oakland.edu/Assets/Oakland/cetl/files-and-
    documents/PowerPoints/Winter2016Workshops/ASDintheClassroom.pdf

    What is Down syndrome? (2017, April 13).


    WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/children/understanding-down-syndrome-basics

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