Special education seems to have to be considered one of the most stressful jobs in the education sector. Experts must convey highly specialized teaching methods that support a variety of different learning environments, alignment social and emotional development with firm academic achievement, and finally equip their pupils for a world that impose many real difficulties, and any method of instruction has obviously been a truly massive challenge. Thereby, the objective of this research was to reveal the challenges that English teachers confront while teaching Special Needs Students.

The subjects of this research included an English teacher from such a special-needs school who had significant experience teaching English. A semi-structured interview was employed to collect data. In accordance with the findings, the most daunting problem that teachers face when teaching English is listening skills. Further to that, the teacher is knowledgeable about teaching concepts, techniques, and problem-solving strategies.

Meaning of 'special education needs' 

Special education is the process of educating students in a way that accommodate their individual difference, disabilities, and special needs. 'Special educational needs' is a legal definition and refers to children with learning problems or disabilities that make it difficult for them to learn effectively like their peers.

Special education refers to the instruction and support provided to students with special needs. It is designed to meet the unique needs of students who have disabilities, such as learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and emotional or behavioral disorders.

IDENTIFYING STUDENTS OR LEARNERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Due to their medical background, certain youngsters are readily recognized as candidates for special needs. For instance, they might have been identified as having a developmental abnormality, many types of brain injury, a genetic illness linked to intellectual incapacity, vision or hearing impairments, or other disabilities.

However, two main approaches have been used to identify students with less evident disabilities, such as those with specific learning difficulties (dyslexia, dyscalculia, etc.) or borderline intellectual disability: the response to intervention model and the discrepancy model.[10] When a teacher observes that a student's performance falls significantly short of expectations, the discrepancy model allows the teacher to decide whether to refer the student to a special education specialist for support. The instructor must first present evidence of poor academic performance. The response to intervention model encourages earlier intervention.

Under the discrepancy model, if a student's academic progress falls short of what is expected of a student with his or her IQ and the student has at least normal intelligence, the student receives special education services for a specific learning disability (SLD). Despite the discrepancy model's long dominance in the educational system, academics have sharply criticized this strategy (see, for example, Aaron, 1995; Flanagan and Mascolo, 2005). One argument against SLD diagnosis based on achievement-IQ disparity is that it does not indicate how well a patient would respond to treatment. Treatment seems to be just as beneficial for low academic achievers with low IQs as it is for those with normal or high IQs.

Responding to intervention is an alternate strategy that finds students who are struggling in their first or second year of school. After that, they get extra help, such taking part in a reading remediation program. Whether or not the youngsters are classified as having a learning disability will then depend on how they react to this intervention. The handful who continue to struggle might then be given a classification and additional help. According to Sternberg (1999), early remediation can significantly lower the proportion of kids who fit the diagnostic criteria for learning difficulties. Additionally, he contends that the emphasis on learning difficulties and the provision of accommodations in schools ignores the fact that people are not all the same and places an excessive amount of stress on academics by demanding that students should be supported in this area and not in music or sports.

How schools can help children with special education needs

Special education is provided in a variety of settings, including regular classrooms, special educations classrooms and separate schools.  Schools can also assist with the following:

• With schoolwork
• Modification of curriculum, instructions or environment.
• Reading, writing, number work or understanding information
• Using of assistive technology or other accommodations
• Expressing themselves or understanding what others are saying
• Making friends or interacting with adults
• Behaving properly in school by organizing themselves

They might have sensory or physical needs that affect them in school.

PAYING ATTENTION TO YOUR CHILD'S PROGRESS

Children progress at different rates and have different ways in which they learn best. When planning lessons, your child's teacher will take account of this by looking carefully at how they organize their lessons, classroom, books and materials.

The teacher will choose suitable ways to help your child learn. If your child is making slower progress or having particular problems in one area, they may be given extra help or different lessons to help.

Just because your child is making slower progress than you expected or the teachers are providing different support, help or activities in class, this doesn't necessarily mean that your child has special educational needs

There are children who are slow in learning that needs a patient teacher, and there are children who are mentally unstable, and also physically disabled. This special child needs a certified and trained tutor (therapist) to help them manage learning and also improve health wise.

GETTING HELP FOR YOUR CHILD

Your child's early years are a very important time for their physical, emotional, intellectual and social development. Early assessment towards the well-being of your child is crucial. This will enable you trace the foundation of the problem and subsequently possible solutions. A timely check with the doctor is advised for early diagnoses. If you have any worries of your own, you should ask for advice right away.

You should ask your child's class teacher, the person in the school responsible for helping children with special educational needs or the administrator.

You could ask them if:

• your child is developing well in any area of interest
• the social status of your child
• if the therapist assigned is working on your child
• or any other academic advice to help improve your child

We have carefully listed out few books to help in developing your child academically.

• Special educational needs: a step-by-step approach  
• Identifying special educational needs in under fives  
• Getting help for children under five with special educational needs

General pros and cons of special needs schools and programs

This schools have an important role to play and the type of programs they run determine the kind of outcome. A special education can have many potential benefits. Though this isn’t an exhaustive list, below are some of the main ones.

Pros

Necessary support: Students get the support they need to get the most out of their education. This may include accommodations, modifications, or re-mediations.

Qualified teachers: Teachers with specialized training in special education and special need children.

Differentiated instruction: Instruction is tailored to individual students to meet their unique learning needs. 

Special resources and services: Special resources and services may be available. This may include academic and psychological counselling, tutoring programs, speech-language therapy, physical and occupational therapy, and learning aids.

Fitting in: Students learn and interact with peers who also have challenges. This may include learning, developmental, behavioral, and physical challenges.

Cons

That being said, there are others who have voiced concerns about special needs schools and programs. We include the primary causes of worry regarding several types of special needs programs below.

Lack of integration: The possibility for Students to learn and interact with peers are narrow with special needs. They thus won’t be exposed to a wide range of influences.

Stigma: The label special needs can have a stigma or negative connotation. Being in a special needs program can reinforce this.

Social relations: Students in a special needs class may have problems relating to other kids in the class or school. This can distrust their social activities.

Academics: Special education sometimes involves lowering expectations. This can lead to problems at higher levels of education.

Transition to a regular school: Some find the transition from a special needs school or program to a regular school challenging. This can be both an academic, social and emotional adjustment.

Conclusion

According to a 2021 study that looked at the effects of Texas's drastic cutbacks in special education programs, pupils who were denied access to special education had much lower rates of high school graduation and college enrollment. 

Ensure a proper background check is been carried out before enrolling your child into any special school, because your child’s wellbeing should be your priority. Sentiments are not needed this kids are vulnerable and can’t defend themselves when confronted with  challenges, its advisable to lay a foundation they can up hold.