Collaborating with Families and Professionals in a Diverse Society

Catalog description

This course is designed to provide students with a practical look at how teachers and families can empower, collaborate, and advocate for children with special needs. Students will see how lasting partnerships can be formed between members of diverse families and professionals in special and general education including administrators, teachers, assistants, special educators, and related service providers. The course includes family systems theory, the history and current status of policy, family rights, and the principles of partnership and their application by teachers and other professionals. Focus is on communication between home and school and strategies for developing culturally appropriate family-centered practices.