Why do some special education teachers believe disabled kids can do may things when they have disabilities?

[Anonymous]

I mean yes there’s many that can have successful careers.

I worked with this teacher and she loves her students. She’s kind but she’s very firm, stern and is a hardass on her students. They’re kindergarten kids. She’s makes them pick up there own things, backpacks away and pick up after themselves when they should be doing. Some of these parents don’t even teach them. She gets frustrated at students that chooses not to use their words but weeks or months later they can talk.

She didn’t say good job she said, “You’re playing games with us. You can obviously talk and trace. Now you wanna talk? Talk when I asked you things.”

In a staff meeting she like, “Why would I say good job when they chose to be stubborn and not want to put any effort?”

She gets super proud of the students that do their work and reward them with hi fives and fist bumps. She gives students tough love and ignores them when they cry. A student threw a temper tantrum because she called him out for his awful behavior with his parents. She’s tiny but MAN SHE IS TOUGH.

A students kept talking off his shoe. We make sure he keeps it on. He came in with no shoe on and she had to go back and get it. She threw it and scolded, “Put your shoe on!” And walked out. I thought she was pretty mean about it but the other staff said, “See that’s why you have a soft heart. You need to buck up and start being “mean” or other words, assertive. You gotta push these kids. Autistic kids need to be pushed out of their comfort zone. Stop being so nice.”

These kids are autistic not dogs. It takes time and there’s stuff there incapable of doing. The teacher says, “Put some effort in to your life! I wouldn’t tell you to do things that you’re not capable of! You can do many things.” I asked her why does she keep saying that. She gave me a look and said because she believes in them and sometimes we have to be tough on them and work with them.

Other teachers says she’s too mean to them.

[AI Opinion]

Special education teachers often see the potential in disabled students because they believe in the importance of high expectations and growth. They understand that with the right support and encouragement, students can develop skills that may initially seem out of reach. This teacher's approach, although tough, aims to push students beyond their perceived limits, fostering independence and resilience. By holding students accountable, she believes they can achieve more and not be defined solely by their disabilities. Her method is grounded in the belief that challenging students can lead to meaningful progress and empowerment.

[Anonymous]

Giving someone false hope is as bad as making someone feel hopeless. Even if the truth hurts it needs to be spoken in a kind compassionate way that certain things may not work out. Absolutely teachers should go above and beyond to help these students. Especially because it may take more time and working with them then the average student but they can eventually get there. It does depend on how severe the disability is.

Most SPED programs have different teachers that deal with different students. Some are with the students who are Down’s syndrome, non verbal autism, and other severe disorders maybe some can talk but have a IQ of a grade schooler. There are others that have a below average IQ but can still do many things on their own. There are ones who have a average and even above average IQ’s some even in the genius range who have some disability or another.

SPED programs deal with kids over a entire spectrum of disorders and disabilities some are more behavioral, some developmental, some neurological, some psychiatric, among many others. There are kids who shouldn’t be in SPED who as as well as kids who should be in SPED who aren’t. It depends on the skill level of the process coordinator and the SPED teachers.

As far as the Kindergarten kids yes absolutely they need to learn responsibility and everything else as other students should. Sure they may have some disturbances and things. But never let their disability become a excuse because that will carry into higher grades. I promise… it’s just a disaster when they get Jr High and High School levels. When they learned they can be babied and I don’t mean just kids with severe disabilities. I mean students who have a slightly below average, average, and even above average IQ’s. Parents can be to blame for some of it as well

[Asker]

Yeah that is true

[Opinion Owner]

Yeah it depends on the district too. Some smaller districts may be all or nothing. Either you’re in one class all day with one sped teacher. Doesn’t matter how severe it is or the students mainstreamed.

But things have improved and most districts have muxn better programs then in the past

[abc3643]

She may be "mean", but there's a difference between Nature and being human: Humans can be humane; Nature has no delusions of morality or mercy and is out to kill you. You either adapt to its ways or die... and Nature always wins.

These kids may be special, but they DO need to be pushed and learn some discipline because Nature isn't going to give a shit about their disabilities. If these kids are going to survive in the real world, they need to get their shit together as best as they can. And many kids who are "on the spectrum" can do that as long as they are not allowed to wallow in their comfort zone.

[Asker]

Yeah that’s true but you don’t need to curse like that. That’s not necessary.
The two other staff told me I’m making it worse by giving in because I’m way too nice and if I’m going to be a teacher, I need to push them discipline when they were little or there going to be in jail or end up beat up or dead.
She said I need to be tough on them because life isn’t going to care how “special” they are and these parents need to get their shit together too.

[abc3643]

THIS:
"She said I need to be tough on them because life isn’t going to care how “special” they are and these parents need to get their shit together too."
is correct.

Nature doesn't make exceptions.

[Asker]

She once yelled at a kid to do their work.

[abc3643]

I'll alert the media.

[Asker]

Okay do that

[abc3643]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITrCDoXmyyA

[Asker]

She threw a shoe at the child but didn’t hit him. She ignores crying kids unless their feelings are hurt.
When a kid got pushed around and cried she told him, “What did she do to you. Toughen up. Crying isn’t going to get you nowhere.”
He told her and she said, “You need to stand up for yourself instead of crying. Buck up.”
She doesn’t put up with crybabies. She’s sweet, kindhearted but she is tough and will give you tough love. The other teachers including me thing she’s being too mean. The other assistant disagreed and said, “No. she’s right because when these kids get into the real world, they are going to have to be tough and nobody is going to care about their disabilities just like people don’t care about yours. Stop babying these kids and show some tough love. It’s okay if they don’t like you sometimes. Tough love is needed and you need to tell them straight that their awful behavior is unacceptable and rotten. You being too nice is making things worse.