National Standards-based Science Materials for Parents of Students with Disabilities

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The proposed one-year DEI project will create standard-based science materials thatparents of students with disabilities can use to reinforce science instruction covered ingrades K-5. The Science Learning Ideas Pages will emphasize activities that parentscan do with their children at home (and in the community) and will be distributed byteachers to parents. It has been demonstrated that parent involvement in their child'seducation is one of the prime reasons for success. Seventy-six sheets will be producedthat describe supplemental activities. The materials will be standards-based, andtherefore will be appealing for many teachers to use. These sheets will be availablefree over the Internet, and will be distributed to state Science and Special EducationCoordinators and to national parent organizations. Similar supplemental materials havebeen developed by this group in the past, but focusing on literacy and recreation. Theproject is well thought out, and it involves a strong team with a good blend of STEM anddisability experience. One weakness was that there was little reference to thestrategies the investigators would use to make the activities accessible for students withdisabilities. The evaluation plan is strong, with both parent and teacher perspectives.The reviewers unanimously felt that the Science Learning Ideas Pages could be just asuseful for students without disabilities as with disabilities. Therefore, we would suggestthat the investigators take a universal design approach to develop an inclusivedocument that could help parents of students regardless of whether their children havea disability.