20809217Introduction to Special Education
Course Information
Description
An introduction to common terms and issues of students with disabilities. Emphasis on inclusion, diversity issues, and legislative mandates including nondiscriminatory assessments, parent/community involvement, individualized education programs, and professional practice with multidisciplinary approaches to supporting children with disabilities in a diverse society.
Total Credits
3
Prior Learning Assessment
  • Transfer Credit (includes Certifications)
  • Experiential-Portfolio
Course Competencies
  1. Examine the major components of an IEP/IFSP and their processes, as well as the roles of students, families, and professionals on the team
    Assessment Strategies
    Written essay, reflection, and/or presentation
    Criteria
    Define IEP/IFSP in the context of K12 educational settings
    Identify the major components of an IEP/IFSP
    Discuss the roles of students, families, and professionals in the IEP/IFSP
    Describe the relationship between students, families, and professionals on the IEP/IFSP team

  2. Evaluate current and historical legislation pertaining to students with disabilities and their families, as well as ethical standards related to professional practices in the field
    Assessment Strategies
    Written essay, reflection, and/or presentation
    Criteria
    Identify current legislation pertaining to students with disabilities and their families
    Evaluate the impact of legislation on schools, students and families
    Describe ethical standards related to professional practices

  3. Discuss significant philosophical and historical aspects of special education, as well as emerging issues, practices, and research in the field
    Assessment Strategies
    Written essay, reflection, and/or presentation
    Criteria
    Identify philosophical questions about special education
    Describe historical aspects of special education
    Discuss emerging issues in special education
    Examine best practices
    Report on current research in the field

  4. Demonstrate awareness of similarities and differences of students with and without disabilities, and the teaching implications of diversity, including culture, language, ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, gender, religion, and lifestyle orientation factors
    Assessment Strategies
    Written essay, reflection, and/or presentation
    Criteria
    Describe the similarities and differences of students with and without disabilities
    Examine the teaching implications of diversity within Special Education
    Discuss the impact of culture, language, ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, gender, religion, and lifestyle orientation factors

  5. Demonstrate knowledge of a variety of disabilities including etiologies, characteristics, specialized physical health care procedures and regulations related to such care, educational and social impact, educational approaches, and available resources
    Assessment Strategies
    Written essay, reflection, and/or presentation
    Criteria
    Identify the variety of disabilities
    Categorize etiologies, characteristics, and specialized health care procedures
    Describe regulations related specialized health care procedures
    Discuss the educational and social impact of disability
    Distinguish educational approaches
    Identify available resources

  6. Describe effective communication strategies with parents from diverse backgrounds and professionals from other disciplines and community useful for those working with exceptional students
    Assessment Strategies
    Written essay, reflection, and/or presentation
    Criteria
    Identify effective communication strategies when working with parents from diverse backgrounds
    Describe professionals from other disciplines who are useful for those working with exceptional students
    Describe professionals from other communities who are useful for those working with exceptional students
    Contribute to creation of group presentation on educational issue
    Present with your group to inform the class on your group’s educational issue, you convey the important aspects, and summarize the important points

  7. Analyze the concepts of Universal Design for Learning in inclusive classrooms
    Assessment Strategies
    Written essay, reflection, and/or presentation
    Criteria
    Analyze the components of Universal Design
    Identify the concepts of Universal Design

  8. Identify how intersectional identities influence one’s K12 experience
    Assessment Strategies
    Written essay, reflection, and/or presentation
    Criteria
    Identify social and historical privileges in the United States
    Identify disproportionality in special education services, outcomes, and classroom discipline
    Recognize ways that students are afforded school privileges and curriculum, such as AP classes, behavior reward systems, college readiness programming, and access to enrichment

  9. Identify strategies for inclusive classroom practices for students with disabilities and when they are and aren’t appropriate
    Assessment Strategies
    Written essay, reflection, and/or presentation
    Criteria
    Define Least Restrictive Environment and Free Appropriate Public Education
    Identify implementation strategies for Least Restrictive Environment and Free Appropriate Public Education in K12 environments
    Identify practical ways teachers can include students at varying grade levels
    Compare and contrast mainstream and inclusive teaching practices and philosophies