EDU 386 - Introduction to Special Education

Semester Hours: 3
Participants will receive an overview of the nature of disabilities, the similarities and differences among all categories of disability, the levels of severity, how to respond to individual learning differences, and implications for instruction. The course content will include current legislation, regulations, policies, litigation, and ethical issues related to the provision of educational services (due process, continuum of services, assessment, discipline, inclusive education, supplemental services and supports, specialized health care needs, assistive technology) for students with disabilities. Also discussed will be current criteria for determining various disabilities, current trends in serving students with disabilities [such as inclusion, transition plans, Common Core State Standards-based IEPs, Curriculum Based Measurements, other Progress Monitoring tools and Response to Intervention (RtI), Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP), and Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS)], current and challenging legal issues (such as functional behavioral assessments, IEP related topics, seclusion and restraint, and professional learning and ethical practice). The course will focus on the practice of special education, as defined by Federal law IDEA and Wisconsin law Chapter 115, beginning with the history of disabilities in the United States (historical perspectives, legislative and litigation history, models, theories, and philosophies) which provide the basis for special education practice. The course will include lectures, assigned readings, written assignments, facilitated large and small group discussions, collaborative teamwork, simulated case studies, role playing, reflective writing, and application to real-world professional experiences.

Pre-requisites: Admission to the Education Program, OR EDU 100 - Introduction to Education, junior standing, and consent of the Director of the Center for Teacher Excellence.

Offered: occasionally.