TEACHING STUDENTS WITH SEVERE OR MULTIPLE DISABILITES

Catalog description

This course prepares beginning or seasoned teachers to meet the needs of those with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), intellectual disabilities (ID), multiple disabilities (MD), and students with extensive needs (SEN) in the special education placement continuum, with a focus on inclusive settings. Candidates will examine curriculum and develop highly individualized instructional plans to address academic, functional, social and communication needs. Candidates will learn to use environmental and ecological inventories and cues to design and optimize students' classrooms' environments for best learning and teaching, using systematic instructional plans (SIP) and different levels of prompting. Candidates will develop collaborative partnerships with their colleagues to adapt, modify, and augment academic content to be taught. Candidates will become familiar with alternative assessments and core academic requirements and will learn the importance of building trusting relationships with families to create post-school transition plans (person-centered-planning).