Advanced Methods of Instructing Students with High Incidence Disabilities

Catalog description

The online course outcomes and goals are aligned with the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) K-12 Special Education Course Competencies as well as Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Standards and CEEDAR High Leverage Practices (HLP’s). Students with high-incidence disabilities often spend most or all of their school day in the general population inclusive classroom. These students have needs that require special accommodations, modifications, and/or teaching styles. In this course, candidates will review the disabilities that are present within the highest frequency of this population of students who receive special education services including autism spectrum disorders, communication disorders, intellectual disabilities, ADHD, dyslexia, specific learning disabilities, and emotional or behavioral disorders. In addition to examining the common characteristics of students who are diagnosed with these disabilities, candidates will develop differentiated instructional strategies and explore resources that will support the learning of all students in the classroom. Candidates’ major activity in this course is a differentiated lesson plan assignment that is also a key assessment for the Special Education program. Using the tools and techniques from this course, candidates will be able to understand the challenges faced by students who have high incidence disabilities in the classroom and help them achieve their highest academic potential. Field experience is required for this course.