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1. Introduction overview of the course

2. History/ Legislation
Topic overview:
o Six key aspects of best practices for working with children with special needs.
o Key federal legislation on early intervention and prevention.
Readings:
Chapter 1: An Inclusive Approach to Early Education;
Chapter Two: Federal Legislation: Early Intervention and Prevention;
Chapter Three: Inclusive Programs for Young Children

3. Gifted Education; Children with Cognitive Delays

 Educational interventions for gifted children.
 Causes and classifications of children with developmental disabilities.
 Strategies to support adaptive development
 Reducing Risk Factors
 Cognitive Delay

-Normal and Exceptional Development;

-Developmental Disabilities: Causes and Classifications.

4. Hearing Impairments

Topic overview: Description of hearing impairments and educational strategies for children with hearing loss.

Readings: Chapter Six Sensory Impairments: Hearing (Pg. 145-157)

5. Vision Impairments

Topic overview: Description of visual impairments and educational intervention strategies for children with
vision impairments.

Chapter 6: Sensory Impairments: Vision

6. Health Problems and Physical Disabilities

Topic overview:
Health disabilities impact on children and families.
Educational interventions for children with health disabilities
Overview of children with physical disabilities
Educational intervention strategies for physical disabilities

Readings: Chapter 7: Physical Disabilities and Health Problems

7. Children with Emotional and Behavioral Differences

Topic overview: Overview of learning and behavioral disorders and related educational
intervention strategies.

-Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder;

-Autistic Disorder

Readings: Chapter 8 Learning and Behavior Disorders

8. Partnerships with Families

Topic overview: Discussion of the impact of disabilities on families and how to partner with
parents.

-Family Crisis;

- Understanding Families

Readings: Chapter 9 Partnership with Families

9. IFSP and IEP Process

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Topic overview: Link of assessment to the components of the Individual Family Service Plan and
the Individual Education Plan

Videos: 20. Can you really test them at that age?

21. How can you tell what they need?

Readings: Chapter 10 Assessment and the IFSP/IEP Process

10. Effective Teachers, Programs and Strategies for Children with Disabilities

Topic overview:

o Characteristics of effective teachers,

o Overview of the developmental-behavioral approach,

o Transition planning

Videos: 22. Activity Based Intervention

Readings: Chapter 11: Characteristics of Effective Teachers in Inclusive Program

Chapter 12: The Developmental-Behavioral Approach;

Chapter 13: Arranging the Learning Environment;

Chapter 19 Planning Transitions to Support Inclusion

11. Language and Social Development

Topic overview:

o Facilitating language, speech, and communication skills.

o Supporting social development.

Videos: 23. Just a feeling I have;

24. Speaking Louder than Words: When Silence isn’t Golden

Readings: Chapter 15. Facilitating Social Development;

Chapter 16: Facilitating Speech, Language and Communication Skills

12. Facilitating self-care and independence, and pre-academic learning; managing challenging behaviors

Topic overview:

o Discussion of the key self-care and adaptive skills needs and how to foster them.

o Overview of pre-academic and cognitive skills;

o Managing challenging behavior.

Readings: Chapter 14. Facilitating Self-Care, Adaptive, and Independence Skill

Chapter 17 Facilitating Pre-academic and cognitive learning;

Chapter 18 Managing Challenging Behavior.