EDSP - Special Education

This course provides a broad introduction to the field of special education. Developmental stages and characteristics of exceptional children and youth are explored along with the philosophical, historical, ethical, and legal foundations of special education. Special education terminology and acronyms are introduced along with Individual Family Service Plans (IFSP), Individual Education Plans (IEP), Individual Transition Plans (ITP), and Admission Review and Dismissal (ARD) meetings.

This course is a study of the characteristics and factors affecting individuals with low incidence disabilities such as visual and hearing impairment, significant developmental delay, medically fragile, autism, and multiply challenged. The course teaches effective educational and behavioral approaches. Field experience is required.

This course is a study of the characteristics and factors affecting individuals with low incidence disabilities, such as visual or hearing impairment, significant developmental delay, medically fragile, autism, and multiply challenged.  This course teaches effective educational and behavioral approaches.  Lab/field experience required.

This course is a study of the causes and characteristics of emotional and behavioral disorders in students from early childhood through adolescence. Classroom and behavior management strategies for maintaining a positive learning environment are considered along with strategies for preparing individuals to live cooperatively and productively in society, social skills needed for educational and functional living environments, and strategies for crisis prevention and intervention. Lab/field experience is required.

This course provides students with hands-on experiences working with individuals and groups in specific areas of disability.

This course explores formal and informal means to assess various student populations. Transition planning and procedures are explored, including vocational and post-secondary options.

This course examines the selection and use of intervention strategies and techniques for students with learning disabilities.  There is an emphasis on exploring and implementing individualized education programs and approaches for meeting the needs of exceptional learners. 

This course examines the range and variety of assistive technology, devices, services, and resources; their role in facilitating students’ access to the general curriculum and active participation in educational activities and routines; and the state and federal laws pertaining to their acquisition and use.  The selection of appropriate assistive technologies for students with various needs are explored.

This course focuses on commonly used assessment approaches and instruments used on elementary school campuses. The course includes information about and practice with the Texas Primary Reading Inventory, running records, miscue analysis, and the use of data to group students and make decisions about group instructional design. Instruction targets reading standards specific to the understanding of phonemic awareness, the alphabetic principle, literacy development and practice, word analysis, decoding, fluency, and comprehension. Students work with small group of public school students for one hour per week at the UMHB Reading Camp.