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News: Do'ers Profile
Charles Nelson
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Name and profession: Charles Nelson, high school special
education teacher/department chair.
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NEA Local affiliate: Pulaski (Arkansas) Association of Classroom
Teachers
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Latest accomplishment: With a 29-year track record in special
ed and 15 years of experience in "teacher-to-teacher" training,
Nelson is a valuable addition to NEA's new, 20-member IDEA/Special
Education Resource Cadre. This diverse team of general and special
educators, with titles ranging from paraeducator to school psychologist,
has been trained in proper implementation of the Individuals With
Disabilities Education Act of 1997.
The Cadre works closely with ASPIIRE, a partnership of seven education
"service provider" organizations funded through a federal training
grant. As a Cadre member, Nelson pledges to work in the Southeast
"to ensure that the wide spectrum of partners involved with a child--be
they administrators, speech and language pathologists, or rehab
center staffers--are on the same page, and that the child's needs
and plans are being fulfilled in accordance with the law."
Nelson will be taking on a facilitator/consultant role, making
IDEA '97 presentations and using his broad overview of the law to
"send people to the best spot to get data addressing their concerns,
interests, or needs."
This veteran educator intends to convince his front-line colleagues
that they're "included in IDEA '97 and have a place at the table."
And he'll tackle widespread misinformation about the law in areas
like alternative placement, IEP conferences and plans, team decision
making, and transition goals.
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Words of wisdom: "All children truly can learn, regardless
of what they've been labeled, with tailor-made IEPs--individual
education plans--that can bring out the best in every child. We
can put together support mechanisms to help the child succeed, be
they in the form of consultants, access to information, or staff
training and seminars.
"Most importantly, the people who come into contact with the child
each day, from the administrator to the custodian, must communicate
and collaborate with one another to bring about an educational experience
that benefits the child."
For more information on NEA's IDEA/Special Education Resource Cadre,
contact NEA staffer Faye Northcutt at 202/822-7404.
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