Working with Maori Children with Special Education Needs

Book excerpt: Who are M ori children with special education needs? Why would working with them be any different to working with other children with special education needs? Why is this a highly important job? This book provides essential information for those striving to provide culturally responsive, effective education for M ori children. Working with M ori Children with Special Education Needs emphasises the importance of learning from the past and listening to M ori children, their parents and wider wh nau (families). It explores the key components of culturally responsive, evidence-based, special education practice; it describes holistic and inclusive responses to educating all tamariki (children), especially those with identified special education needs; and it discusses a paradigm for M ori disability identity-wh nau hau . This book also features specific categorial studies, outlining M ori concepts and advising professionals. The studies explore the needs of deaf children and their wh nau; outline general, educational and cultural barriers for M ori who are vision impaired or blind; and discuss physical disability, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, and giftedness from a M ori perspective. This book then considers ways that teachers and wh nau can capitalise on their respective strengths and knowledge in order to take joint responsibility for students' learning and behaviour."