No abstract

Students who require specialized health care procedures at school need school personnel with specific knowledge and skills to promote a safe, healthy environment and to assist with procedures. This comprehensive national study examined the extent to which nonmedical personnel were responsible for performing health care procedures, training and supervising health care procedures, training in basic health skills to promote a safe environment for all students, and involving students in performing their own health care procedures. Results indicated that while teachers and paraprofessionals regularly perform these specialized health care procedures, although only about half reported being very knowledgeable about them. Results raise several issues regarding appropriate service delivery, training, and maintaining an appropriate instructional and healthy environment for students requiring these specialized health care procedures.

With the growing trend towards generic certification, questions arise concerning the extent of knowledge and skills teachers have in instructing students with physical and health disabilities. This national study examines the knowledge and skills of teachers instructing students with physical and health disabilities, the perceptions of their special education directors, the resources available through their state Departments of Education, and the competencies included in physical and health disabilities at their universities. Results indicate that over 40% of the special education teachers certified to teach students with physical disabilities do not feel well trained in about half of the competencies. Concerns regarding the effects of generic teacher certification and generic training in the area of physical and health disabilities are discussed.

No abstract

No abstract