Version: 3/20/2019 2
Additional Course Information
Topical Outline: Each offering of this course must include the following topics (be sure to include information regarding lab,
practicum, and clinical or other non-lecture instruction).
• Viewing the child with special needs as a child first
• Legislation pertaining to the rights of children with disabilities
• Understanding the impact of poverty and children with special needs
• The inter-disciplinary team; the continuum of services; related services
• Inclusion and inclusion models
• Use of observation skills in serving children with special needs
• The referral process
• Early Childhood Intervention (ECI)-birth to age three years
• Pre-School Program for Children with Disabilities-three to six years
• The Individual Education Program (IEP)
• Designing Instructional Programs
• Health Impairments, Hearing Impairments, Learning Disabilities, Visual Impairments, Emotional Disorders, Physical
Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorders, Intellectual Disabilities; Behavioral Disorders
• Accommodations for supporting Cognitive Development, Physical Development, Language Development, and Social-
Emotional Development in infants and children with disabilities
• Supporting the development of play in children with disabilities
• Knowledge of timetables of typical development to use in assessing children and planning developmentally
appropriate curriculum
• Response to Intervention
• Family-Centered Services (working with families in all their various forms in a culturally responsive manner, family
participation at the Admission, Review, and Dismissal Meeting)
• Community-Based Inclusive Services
• Evidence-Based Practices
• Routines-Based or Embedded Interventions
• Standards-Based Curriculum
• Duties of a paraprofessional in a special education setting
In addition to lecture and discussions, students will observe 6 hours in special education settings outside of class for ages
birth-12 years at approved sites.
National Association for the Education of Young Children Standards measured in the course:
1. Promoting child development and learning
2. Building family and community relationships
3. Observing, documenting, and assessing
4. Using developmentally appropriate approaches to connect with children and families
5. Using content knowledge to build meaningful curriculum
6. Becoming a professional
Course Learning Outcomes:
Learning Outcomes – Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
1. Summarize causes, incidences and characteristics of exceptionalities related to the domains of development;
2. Discuss current terminology and practices for intervention strategies;
3. Identify appropriate community resources and referrals for individual children and families;
4. Identify legislation and legal mandates and their impact on practices and environments
5. Explain the role of advocacy for children with special needs and their families.
6. Identify materials and resources, including current technology, to support learning in all domains for each and
every child
