Jill Bevan-Brown

Working with Maori Children with Special Education Needs Jill Bevan-Brown

Who are MÄori children with special education needs? Why would working with them be any different to working with other children with special education needs? Why is this a highly important job? This book provides essential information for those striving to provide culturally responsive, effective education for MÄori children. Working with MÄori Children with Special Education Needs emphasises the importance of learning from the past and listening to MÄori children, their parents and wider whÄnau (families). It explores the key components of culturally responsive, evidence-based, special education practice; it describes holistic and inclusive responses to educating all tamariki (children), especially those with identified special education needs; and it discusses a paradigm for MÄori disability identity-whÄnau hauÄ. This book also features specific categorial studies, outlining MÄori concepts and advising professionals. The studies explore the needs of deaf children and their whÄnau; outline general, educational and cultural barriers for MÄori who are vision impaired or blind; and discuss physical disability, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, and giftedness from a MÄori perspective. This book then considers ways that teachers and whÄnau can capitalise on their respective strengths and knowledge in order to take joint responsibility for students' learning and behaviour.