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EDSP 663

I. Course Title: Characteristics of Students with Severe Disabilities

II. Course Number: EDSP 663

III. Credit Hours: 3 credits

IV. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor

V. Course Description: Provides knowledge and understanding of the characteristics and needs of individuals with severe disabilities. Serves as the foundational course for the licensure program in special education, adapted curriculum.

VI. Detailed Description of Content of the Course:

This course focuses on the academic, social, medical, and behavioral characteristics of individuals with severe disabilities and the impact these characteristics have on school, family, and life outcomes. The course examines etiology, contributing factors, identification process, and educational implications of these disabilities. Course topics may include:

  • The history of the cultural response and educational, residential and vocational outcomes for individuals with severe disability.
  • Understanding the needs of people with severe disabilities.
  • Planning services and supports for people with severe disabilities.
  • Typical and atypical childhood development, and implications for family supports and educational services.
  • Federal definition of Developmental Disabilities.
  • Academic, social, medical and behavioral characteristics of each of the disabilities that comprise Developmental Disabilities.

VI. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course:

  1. Class lecture and discussion
  2. Application activities
  3. Small group activities and assignments
  4. Video and other media supports
  5. Research and presentation activities
  6. Electronic supplements and activities

VII. Goals and Objectives of the Course:

Goals, objectives, and assignments in this class 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 Skills Items. Specialty sets included in this course cover competencies for the Individualized Independence Curriculum. 

1. State the federal definitions of students with severe disabilities including students with autism, developmental delay, intellectual disability, traumatic brain injury, and multiple disabilities - including sensory, deaf-blindness, speech-language, orthopedic and other health impairments as an additional disability.

2. Describe the history and evolution of severe disability. 

3. Describe the characteristics of individuals with severe disabilities whose cognitive impairments or adaptive skills require adaptations to the general curriculum and whose functional skills are significantly different from typically developing peers and therefore require adaptations to the general curriculum for an appropriate education. Describe how these characteristics below impact education, behavior, and social interactions.

  • Age-span and developmental issues;
  • Levels of severity;
  • Medical, health, sensory, and positioning and handling needs;
  • Cognitive functioning;
  • Speech, language development, and communication;
  • Emotional and behavioral development and supports;
  • Social development; and
  • Cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic factors

4. Describe the impact of disability on self-determination and self-advocacy skills.

5. Describe historical and legal perspectives, models, theories, philosophies, and trends related to specific student populations.

6. Describe how educational environments impact students with severe disabilities.

7. Describe how to build strong parental connections and relationships for families with severe disabilities. 

VIII. Assessment Measures:

Students will be assessed in multiple ways. These may include, but are not limited to:

  1. Detailed disability case study (signature assignment)
  2. Child abuse recognition and training module
  3. Course learning modules that may include reflections, discussions, and quizzes

 

Other Course Information: None

 

Review and Approval

4/14/94            Modified      John E. Sycamore

4/01/98            Reviewed/recommended for revision Rachel Janney

8/7/01               Course number changed

3/16/05             Course title changed.

2/2020              Course Revision Elizabeth Altieri

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