Procedures used to Diagnose a Disability and to Assess ...

1 Procedures used to Diagnose a Disability and to Assess special educational needs : an international Review By Dr Martin Desforges and Professor Geoff Lindsay, Centre for educational Development, Appraisal and Research, University of Warwick A report commissioned by the NCSE. 2010. The National Council for special Education has funded this research. Responsibility for the research (including errors and omissions) remains with the Centre for educational Development, Appraisal and Research (CEDAR), University of Warwick.

2 The views and opinions contained in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Council. NCSE RESEARCH REPORTS NO: 5. Procedures used to Diagnose a Disability and to Assess special educational needs : 1. an international Review NCSE 2010 The National Council for special Education was established under the Education for Persons with special educational needs Act 2004 (EPSEN Act 2004) with effect from the 1st October 2005. The Council was set up to improve the delivery of education services to persons with special educational needs with particular emphasis on children.

3 National Council for special Education 1-2 Mill Street Trim Co. Meath An Chomhairle N isi nta um Oideachas Speisialta 1-2 Sr id an Mhuilinn Baile tha Troim Co. na M T: 046 948 6400. F: 046 948 6404. Procedures used to Diagnose a Disability and to Assess special educational needs : ii an international Review Foreword The National Council for special Education (NCSE) was formally established in 2005 under the Education for Persons with special educational needs Act 2004. (EPSEN) to improve the delivery of education services to persons with special education needs , with particular emphasis on children.

4 Commissioning, conducting and publishing research to provide an evidence base to support its work are key functions of the NCSE. It is now widely acknowledged that research evidence has a very valuable role to play in the development of policy and practice. Reports from the NCSE research programme, including this one, will be key sources, amongst others, that will assist the NCSE in carrying out its work and in developing policy advice to the Minister for Education and Skills on special education matters, another of the NCSE's statutory functions.

5 The reports will also assist in identifying and disseminating to schools, parents and other appropriate stakeholders, information relating to best practice concerning the education of children with special education needs . This research report was commissioned to provide the NCSE with an overview of international practice and standards in relation to diagnosing a Disability and assessing special education needs . Seven countries and a number of jurisdictions within these countries are included in this review and are compared with the practice and standards in Ireland.

6 It also explores the conceptual frameworks for the diagnostic and assessment models, the professionals involved, the methods used and the links between diagnostic models and special education resource allocation. The authors have identified a number of recommendations, which the NCSE will now need to consider in carrying out its work and in developing its own policy advice to the Minister for Education and Skills. Pat Curtin, Chief Executive Officer Procedures used to Diagnose a Disability and to Assess special educational needs : iii an international Review Table of Contents Foreword.

7 Iii Table of Contents .. iv Glossary ..viii Executive Summary .. 1. Methodology ..2 Key findings ..3 1 Introduction and Methodology .. 19. Introduction ..19 Conceptual Frameworks for Diagnosis and Identification of Disability and SEN ..21 international Classification Systems ..26 Cultural Aspects of SEN Values and Tensions in SEN Assessment ..32 Discussion ..35 Methodology ..36 Selection of countries ..36 Data collection ..36 Analysis of data ..37 2 Assessment of SEN in England .. 38. Introduction ..38 Legal Framework.

8 38 Principles on which the Code of Practice is based ..39 The Roles of Parents and A Framework for Identification and Assessment of SEN ..42 Statutory Assessment of SEN ..44 Medical advice ..47 Psychological advice ..49 Consequences of time spent on statutory assessments ..51 Discussion ..52 Procedures used to Diagnose a Disability and to Assess special educational needs : iv an international Review 3 Assessment of SEN in Australia .. 53. Introduction ..53 South Australia ..56 Queensland ..60 Information Investigating a Request for verification.

9 62 Verification ..62 Review of Discussion ..63 4 Assessment of SEN in 65. Introduction ..65 Alberta Province ..66 Newfoundland and Labrador ..72 Discussion ..76 5 Assessment of SEN in the United States of 78. Introduction ..78 Example of State Policy: Discussion ..86 special needs in Alabama State ..87 Professionals ..91 A comparison of the states of Alabama and Massachusetts ..92 Discussion ..93 6 Assessment of SEN in Germany .. 95. Introduction ..95 Best Practice in SEN Summary ..99 7 Assessment of SEN in South Africa.

10 100. Introduction ..100 Assessment of special needs ..102 Involvement of Parents and Discussion ..106 Procedures used to Diagnose a Disability and to Assess special educational needs : v an international Review 8 Assessment of SEN in New 108. Introduction ..108 Role of Parents and Funding for SEN ..112 Discussion ..114 9 Assessment of SEN in 116. Introduction ..116 National Council for special Department of Education and Science ..118 Disability ..118 Resource Allocation and the General Allocation Model for Primary Schools.