M1: ELs with Additional Needs

The intersections between multilingualism and disability or exceptionality or neurodiversity are important considerations for all of us.  There are not many experts in these fields because of the amount of work, study, time, and expertise it takes to develop in all these areas.  So maybe one of you will go on to become a leading expert in this area!

For now, let's look at some information we do have and advice from educators on working with students and their families around these intersectionalities.

In this first video, the professor Dr. Nancy Cloud talks about how an EL is always an EL, even if and when they are diagnosed and served in other programs.  This is a bigger picture view of how to support ELs who are also served in special education.  She talks about how to bring the "two worlds" together.  She talks about some of the strategies and methods we will be learning in our class.

In this next short video (less than a minute!) fourth-grade teacher Christina Guerra talks about the importance of letting families know that you understand their child's strengths, especially when talking about special education needs and services.

 

Here is another example of a teacher sharing specific suggestions for a student who is an EL and also diagnosed with autism.

And finally, Dr. Alba Ortiz discusses some considerations for IEPs and multilingual students.