ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the unique and essential role early and continued science experiences can play in enabling disabled individuals to develop their potential to the fullest. Education is the learning of facts and how to use them as part of decision-making about problems and issues of concern and importance to individuals and the society in which they live. Science, with its emphasis on evidence and use of mathematics and natural language, can provide unique opportunities for all students to use and develop their reasoning abilities. For the disabled learner, science provides many opportunities for necessary related learning experiences in fields such as mathematics, language, and everyday application skills. The nature and complexity of science or health is such that no course or total school program can hope to cover all aspects. Choices need to be made which determine the nature and impact of the learner’s experiences.
