Special Education ETDs

Publication Date

7-16-1973

Abstract

There are, at the present time, four major agencies providing special education services to Navajo children. These are: the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, and Department of Education of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Each of these agencies has its own special education administrative model and each of those mode is different. It has been the purpose of this thesis to determine the adequacy of those models for the provision of special education services to handicapped Navajo children. Where it has been determined that present guidelines and standards are not appropriate, new guide lines and standards have been proposed, a long with a plan for implementation. Methodology has consisted primarily of a review of the present special education administrative mode is of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and the Department of Education of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

A review of selective demographic data relating to Navajo handicapped children has also been included in this thesis.

The administrative mode is of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and the Department of Education of the Bureau of Indian Affairs have been compared against each other for the purpose of providing the analytic base upon which recommendations could be made relative to Navajo guidelines.

Serious deficiencies have been found to exist in the present special education administrative model is concerned in this study. These include: omissions, an absence of uniform terminology, vagueness, and failure to adequately provide for the special needs of Navajo handicapped children.

A number of practical problems encountered in attempting to meet the needs of Navajo children whether or not they are handicapped are discussed. These include: distance, poor roads, language and cultural differences, poor health and nutrition, poverty, and lack of trained Navajo teachers and other professional personnel. The existence of these problems has increased the need for special education administrative model suited to the particular needs of Navajo handicapped children.

Document Type

Thesis

Language

English

Degree Name

Special Education

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Special Education

First Committee Member (Chair)

James Samuel Everett

Second Committee Member

Richard Lane McDowell

Third Committee Member

Gary Anderson

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