EDCK 1 Facilitating Learner-Centered Teaching |1
Learners with
Module 6
Exceptionalities
INTRODUCTION
Learners with exceptionalities are individuals who have unique learning needs that require special attention
and support. These learners may have disabilities or giftedness that affect their ability to learn new things
and perform day-to-day tasks.
In general, exceptionalities fall into six broad categories: intellectual, communicative, sensory, behavioral,
physical, and multiple. For instance, students with intellectual exceptionalities may have superior
intelligence, while those with communicative exceptionalities may have special learning disabilities or
speech or language impairments.
It is important to note that learners with exceptionalities generally have average to superior intelligence
and are often gifted in fields such as science, math, fine arts, and other creative mediums. However, there
may be a gap between their potential and the skills expected from a person of their age.
Learner-centered teaching is an approach that emphasizes the learner's active participation and
engagement in the learning process. In the context of learners with exceptionalities, this approach is
particularly important as it considers the learner's cognitive, emotional, and social needs. It requires
students to be active, responsible participants in their own learning and with their own pace of learning.
OBJECTIVES:
● Describe the basic categories of exceptional learners
● Define and distinguish the terms disability and handicap
● Demonstrate 'people first’ language when referring to exceptional learners and advocate
for its use
Learners with Exceptionalities
R.E. DALUSONG, MAED (2024)
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Exceptional Learners- learners who are different in some way from 'normal’ to 'average’
● The presence of exceptionalities is one of the significant factors that contribute to
student diversity
● This term includes those with special needs related to cognitive abilities, behavior, social
functioning, physical and sensory impairments, emotional disturbances, and giftedness.
Disability- a measurable impairment or limitation that 'interferes with person's ability, for
example, to walk, lift, hear or learn. It may refer to a physical, sensory, or mental condition'
(Schiefelbusch Institute, 1996). The word disability has become the more accepted term, having
replaced the word handicap in federal laws in the US, one of which is the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA). IDEA is the law that provides comprehensive service and support for
exceptional learners. Our very own 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article XIV, Sec. 2, uses the word
'disabled’ in paragraph (5) 'Provide adult citizens, the disabled, and out-of-school youth with
training...'
Handicap- the word does not have the same meaning as disability
A handicap is a disadvantage that occurs as a result of a disability or impairment. The degree of
disadvantage (or the extent of the handicap) is often dependent on the adjustment made by both
the person and his environment. Therefore, the extent to which a disability handicaps an individual
can vary greatly. Two persons may have the same disability but not the same degree of being
handicapped. For example, they both have a hearing impairment, one knows sign language and
can read lips while the other cannot. The first individual would not have as much handicap as the
second one. Another example, two persons who move around on a wheelchair, the one studying
in school campus with wheelchair accessibility in all areas would be less handicapped than one in
a school without wheelchair accessibility.
Categories of Exceptionalities
Specific Cognitive or Academic Difficulties
R.E. DALUSONG, MAED (2024)
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1. Learning Disabilities- results from a difference in the way a person's brain is 'wired' (neurological
disorder)
● This involve difficulties in specific cognitive processes like perception, language, memory,
or metacognition
● A learning disability can't be cured or fixed; it is a lifelong issue.
Learning Disabilities Examples
1. Dyslexia (reading)
2. Dyscalculia (Number Operations)
3. Dysgraphia (Writing)
4. Language processing disorder
5. Visual perceptual/visual motor deficit
2. Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder- manifested in either or both of these: (1) difficulty in
focusing and maintaining attention and (2) recurrent hyperactive and impulsive behavior
Major Types:
1. ADHD Combined Type
2. ADHD Impulsive/Hyperactive
3. ADHD Inattentive and Distractible Type
3. Speech and Communication Disorders
● There is difficulty in spoken language including voice disorders, inability to produce the sounds
correctly, stuttering, difficulty in spoken language comprehension that significantly hamper
classroom performance.
Social/Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties
1. Autism- a condition manifested by different levels of impaired social interaction and
communication, repetitive behaviors and limited interests.
● Individuals with autism usually have an intense need for routine and a predictable environment.
2. Intellectual Disability (Mental Retardation)- characterized by below-average intelligence or
mental ability and a lack of skills necessary for day-to-day living (IQ measured as below 70-75)
● Someone with an intellectual disability has limitations in these two areas:
R.E. DALUSONG, MAED (2024)
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1. Intellectual Functioning (IQ)- the person's ability to learn, reason, make decisions and solve
problems
2. Adaptive behaviors- skills necessary for day-to-day life
Intellectual Disability (Mental Retardation) Causes:
● Fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effect
● Brain damage caused by the use of prescription or illegal drugs during pregnancy
● Brain injury and disease
● Genetic disorders
3. Emotional/Conduct Disorders- involves the presence of emotional states like depression and
aggression over a considerable amount of time that they notably disturb learning and performance in school
Physical Disabilities and Health Impairments
1. Severe and Multiple Disabilities. This refers to the presence of two or more different types of
disability, at times profound level. The combination of disabilities makes it necessary to make
specific adaptations and have more specialized educational programs.
2. Visual Impairments- conditions where there is malfunction of the eyes or optic nerves that
prevent normal vision even with corrective lenses
3. Hearing Impairments. This involve malfunction of the ear or auditory nerves that hinders
perception of sounds within the frequency range of normal speech
4. Giftedness. This involves a significantly high level of cognitive development. There is unusually
high ability or aptitude in one or more of these aspects: intellectual ability, aptitude in academic
subjects, creativity, visual or performing art, or leadership
People First Language
What is 'People First Language’?
Just as the term would imply, this language trend involves putting the first person first, not the disability
(e.g. a person with disability, not a disabled person). Thus, people first language tells us what conditions
people have, not what they are (Schiefelbach Institute, 1996). This is similar to saying 'person with AIDS,
rather than AIDS victim'.
R.E. DALUSONG, MAED (2024)
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Other suggestions for referring to those with disabilities include:
● Avoiding generic labels (people with mental retardation is preferrable to the mentally retarded)
● Emphasizing abilities, not limitations
For example, say “a man walks with crutches,” not” he is crippled.”
● Avoiding euphemisms
TYPES OF EUPHEMISMS
- Abstract Euphemism
- Indirect Euphemisms
- Litotes Euphemisms
- Mispronunciation Euphemisms
- Modification Euphemisms
- Personification Euphemisms
- Slang Euphemisms
EUPHEMISM EXAMPLE IN SENTENCES:
- He has passed away.
(Euphemism for He has died.)
- She is between jobs.
(She is unemployed.)
- He is a little thin on top.
(He is losing his hair.)
- This pre-loved sofa is for sale.
(This second-hand sofa is for sale.)
- Adam, did you recycle Jack's research?
(plagiarise)
- She is economical with the truth.
(a liar)
● Avoiding implying illness or suffering ('had polio' is preferable to 'is a polio victim', and 'has
multiple sclerosis' is preferable to 'suffers from multiple sclerosis')
R.E. DALUSONG, MAED (2024)