EDSP 472: Characteristics of Students with Disabilities who Access the General Education Curriculum
Prerequisites: EDSP 360 or EDSP 361 or PSYC 401
Credit Hours: (3)
This course provides future educators an understanding of definitions, characteristics,
and the learning and behavioral support needs of students with disabilities who are
accessing the general education curriculum at the elementary, middle, and high school
levels. Characteristics and educational needs of students with learning disabilities,
intellectual disabilities, emotional and behavioral disabilities, other health impairments,
traumatic brain injury, developmental delays, autism, multiple disabilities, and orthopedic
impairments will be addressed. Students will understand how the experiences of individuals
with disabilities can impact families, as well as how disabilities may affect the
individual鈥檚 ability to learn, interact socially, and live as a fulfilled, contributing
member of their communities.
Note(s): Cultural or Behavioral Analysis designated course.
Detailed Description of Content of Course
The course allows future educators to understand how disabilities can interact with the domains of human development and to learn how educators can use this knowledge to respond to the varying abilities and behaviors of individuals with disabilities. This course examines key topics, such as cognitive functioning, including attention, memory, perception, and critical thinking. Additional characteristics, including language development, social development, emotional and behavioral regulation, and medical aspects, will be examined. Students in this course will understand how the level of severity of disabling conditions, as well as factors relating to age/developmental level, cultural/ethnic, and socioeconomic background, affect participation in the general education curriculum.
Course concepts will address:
鈥hysical, social, psychological, behavioral, academic, and medical characteristics of students with disabilities and how these characteristics impact varying aspects of student learning
鈥haracteristics and effects of the cultural and environmental milieu of the student with disabilities
鈥he impact of disabilities on reading, academic skills, critical thinking, and social skills
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
Readings, lecture and online modules, class discussion, analysis of case studies, writing assignments, and other application activities, which may include presentations
Goals and Objectives of the Course
Goals, objectives, and assignments address the Virginia Department of Education regulations for preparing educators and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Initial Preparation Standards and Specialty Set Knowledge and Skill Items. Specialty sets included in this course cover competencies for the Individualized General Curriculum and Individualized Independence Curriculum.
Having successfully completed this course, the student will be able to:
1.Describe the differing ways of learning of individuals with disabilities including those from culturally diverse backgrounds.
2.Describe the psychological and social-emotional characteristics of individuals with disabilities.
3.Describe the impact of sensory impairments and their impact on learning and experience.
4.Describe the impact of physical and health disabilities on individuals, medical aspects of conditions affecting individuals with disabilities, the impact on families and society, and explain the common etiologies.
5.Provide educational implications of characteristics of various disabilities, including the impact of disabilities on reading, auditory and information processing, academic skills, critical thinking, and social skills.
6.Identify characteristics and effects of the cultural and environmental milieu of individuals with disabilities and their families. Discuss issues in definition and identification procedures for students from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, the influence of family systems and the role of families in supporting development.
7.Discuss variations in beliefs, traditions, and values across and within cultures and how these cultural perspectives influence relationships among families, schools, and communities as related to instruction for students with disabilities.
8.Describe the impact of learners鈥� attitudes, interests, and values on instruction and career development.
9.Identify research-supported strategies, appropriate levels and types of support and/or adaptations, including technology, to address the needs of individual students
Assessment Measures
Assessment Measures may include, but are not limited to:
鈥虫补尘蝉
鈥articipation in class discussions
鈥ritten assignments
鈥ase study analysis
鈥emonstration of knowledge on research-supported strategies
Other Course Information
None
Review and Approval
Revised April, 2009
March 01, 2021