Students with Special Needs and School Procedures

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Students with Special Needs and School Procedures | Megan Gross | | California State University Stanislaus | Students with Special Needs and School Procedures School counselors have many roles when dealing with the student population. Their role is equally as multifaceted when it comes to dealing with the diverse population of students with disabilities. When trying to understand the scope of the professional school counselors’ responsibilities as they pertain to students with disabilities, one must take into consideration a number of laws, codes, and procedures put in place to ensure individuals experiencing disabilities receive appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. Outlined below are procedures, roles, and responsibilities of the professional school counselor, along with other school administration and staff, related to dealing with the unique and diverse population of students with special needs. As defined by the American School Counselors Association (2010), the professional school counselor has numerous roles when addressing the population of students with disabilities. These roles are identified as advocacy, transition planning, behavior modification, counseling parents, making referrals to specialists, improving self-esteem, working as part of the school multidisciplinary team, teaching social skills, and serving as consultants to parents and school staff. There are many hats the professional school counselor must wear, however it is important to note that an efficient school counselor executing an effective comprehensive school guidance program will be implementing these responsibilities in collaboration with school administration, staff, and parents. In collaboration with other school staff, school counselors must search and serve, that is, they must be capable of identifying and promptly serving students who
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