This video describes the interesting predicament of the over and under identification of Language Learners for Special Education Services. As a Special Educator I have seen both sides of this problem. I have worked with students who were identified with a Speech and Language disability with areas of weaknesses including reading, writing and speech who is also identified as a Language Learner. These students are often labeled with a disability, when in reality their weaknesses are stemming in not having enough time to learn the language. Conversely, I currently have a student who is identified with a Learning Disability who was not identified until third grade as a result of being a Language Learner. They were waiting to see how the student responded to language interventions prior to pursuing a Special Education referral. This student has significant weaknesses in the areas of decoding, encoding and math. As a result of being a Language Learner as a young child, they were not identified early enough to receive early intervention for their disability, which may have impacted their progress early on. In many of the school districts that I have worked in, when a Language Learning student is identified for Special Education, their ELL services are discontinued and replaced for Special Education services. These services have different purposes and there have been many instances where I have had to advocate for students to be able to receive both services because that it what is appropriate to meet the students needs. Additionally, I have also had several experiences with students who have immigrated to the country with a documented disability, which creates an interesting situation. Legally, districts are required to provide these students with special education, but the student is also still adjusting to American schools and learning the language. We have had to create extremely specific and creative programs to provide students with the services that they require.

Overall, the intersection of the Special Education process, Immigration and Language Learning process can be an incredibly complex and nuanced conversation.