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Special Education

A series on special education in Kent County. School News Network will take readers into classrooms around the area to shine a light on new approaches to teaching students with physical and mental disabilities.

First-year program links peers

Byron Center Alexis Stark

Nickels Intermediate gen ed, special ed students pair up to learn from one another...

Washing service offers loads of help

Forest Hills Morgan Jarema

These Eastern High students are preparing for life and, for some, gainful employment...

Special needs preschooler thrives in inclusive program

Comstock Park Karen Gentry

Alivia Brewer is a non-verbal, special needs preschooler, who has become an integral part and a calming presence in her preschool class...

Apprentices explore their creative potential

Kent ISD Morgan Jarema

This one-year program is one of a handful of visual and performing arts programs with Artists Creating Together for young adult students with special needs...

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Young adult students learn skills for work and life

Grandville Brett Atwood

Young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities learn the ins and outs of possible job opportunities after high school...

We can be great friends, even with differences

Godfrey-Lee Alexis Stark

Godfrey Elementary fourth-graders learn about inclusion, acceptance and showing kindness...

Pre-teach, teach, reteach

Byron Center Erin Albanese

Students learn through a “pre-teach and reteach model,” sometimes receiving instruction three different times as additional support...

Learning something new expands life, social skills

Kentwood Erin Albanese

Students in an Autism Spectrum Disorder and Moderately Cognitively Impaired program explored many types of art and dance, thanks to a grant...

Trash becomes treasure during bucket art project

Special Education Erin Albanese

Students in teacher Laura Sluys’ special education class and general education students recently worked together on an artistic project in partnership with the program, Artists Creating Together...

It’s a clean sweep

Kent ISD Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

An opportunity to work on life skills leads to a group of Kent ISD Community Transition Center students helping one local restaurant during the pandemic...

‘There is something about inclusion’

Sparta Janice Holst

This teacher has made it her mission to help students with mild impairments find their way in school and beyond...

Virtual preschoolers stay on track, connect through activities

School 2.0 Erin Albanese

Read-alouds, group songs, fine-motor skills, weekly teacher-parent-child meetings are all happening online...

Expressing their gratitude

Kent ISD Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

KTC students have joined forces to help send a message of appreciation to local veterans...

Through screens and technical glitches, learning goes on

Grand Rapids Charles Honey

In a year of forced online learning, teachers themselves have had much to learn in keeping students engaged and progressing...

Students pair up to overcome challenges

Grand Rapids Community College Alexis Stark

When the COVID-19 pandemic closed some doors, a window opened to a new partnership between Grand Rapids Community College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant students and college-aged adults diagnosed with intellectual disabilities...