SPED/535
Overview of Severe Disabilities
Online
Format
$525
Estimated Tuition
3 credits
Total credits
4 weeks
Course length
Start when you're ready
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Course level: Continuing Teacher Education
This course provides K-12 educators with an overview of severe disabilities. Participants examine the categories and characteristics of severe disabilities including impairments, injuries, and disorders. Special education laws, teaching strategies, assessment, placement options, augmentative and assistive technology, communication and collaboration among stakeholders, and cultural considerations are also explored. This course is not available for enrollment to residents of Alabama, Arkansas, and Kentucky.
Prerequisites
None
What you'll learn
Course skills and outcomes
Week 1
- Define terminology associated with severe disabilities.
- Analyze the characteristics of severe disabilities.
- Compare the causes and theories of severe disabilities.
- Describe the progression of philosophies and considerations of working with students with severe disabilities.
- Explore how laws protecting students with severe disabilities have evolved over time.
Week 2
- Identify the academic and behavioral characteristics of students with severe disabilities.
- Explore how the different theories of severe disabilities affect the methods for prevention, assessment, and diagnosis.
- Identify different types of assessments and rating scales that are used to evaluate skills and abilities of students with severe disabilities.
- Explore how student impairment, injury, or disorders can affect assessment, diagnosis, and placement.
- Analyze state or federal provisions, regulations, and guidelines regarding assessment and diagnosis of students with severe disabilities.
Week 3
- Identify the characteristics of an effective teaching environment for students with severe disabilities.
- Analyze the types of programs or curriculum options available for students with severe disabilities.
- Summarize the theories of behavior problems and behavior management techniques for students with severe disabilities.
- Explore evidence-based instruction for students with severe disabilities.
- Identify culturally competent instructional practices.
Week 4
- Analyze transition planning as it applies to students with severe disabilities.
- Analyze how assistive technologies can help integrate students with severe disabilities into schools and the community.
- Identify the key elements that students with severe disabilities need in order to develop friendships and durable relationships, as well as ways to support these students in and beyond the classroom.
- Identify ways to overcome cultural and communication barriers with families of students with severe disabilities.
- Analyze alternative methods to communicate with families of students with severe disabilities for individualized education program meetings.
- Explain how schools, families, and communities can support the learning of students with severe disabilities.
- Explore the importance of cultural awareness and culturally-aware services when educating students with severe disabilities.
