SPE508 Critical Literacy for Students with Disabilities

This course introduces critical and foundational perspectives for teaching forms of literacy to students with disabilities. Critical literacy is understood as the use of literacy to empower students and to achieve social equity. The course examines contemporary understandings of literacy (listening, speaking, writing, and reading) other forms of communication (e.g. gestures, communicative behavior), and their usefulness in facilitating literacy learning. Emphasis is placed on preparing students with disabilities to use literacy to gain access to the general education curriculum and the inherent right of all students to use literacy in self-expression and communication. 15 hours of field work required. Prerequisite(s): SPE500, SPE506, SPE502/526, SPE503, SPE509, SPE545 or consent of instructor. 3 semester hours