Children With Special Needs Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Instructor Information

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

N/A

Student Withdrawal Procedures

N/A

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

CDEC-1359-001 Children With Special Needs

Prerequisites

Course Description

A survey of information regarding children with special needs including possible causes and characteristics of exceptionalities, educational intervention, available resources, referral processes and the advocacy role and legislative issues. TECA - Texas Early Childhood Articulation academic transfer course that will partially satisfy the first two-year requirements of a Child Development/Early Childhood baccalaureate degree at any Texas public university.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

The Exceptional Child: Inclusion in Early Childhood Education, 7th edition,
Allen, Eileen K., and Cowdery, Glynnis E., Thomson Delmar Learning, 2012 with WebTutor Access Code.

You can purchase this textbook through AC’s West Campus Bookstore. Bundled with this textbook will be a WebTutor access code that you                                                                                                                                                    must have in order to view the publisher’s online course content.
 

Supplies

You will need access to a reliable computer with a good internet source.  Other supply needs will be discussed.

Student Performance

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. Review 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. Use various types of materials and resources, including current technology to support learning in all domains for all children.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Students are expected to follow all Amarillo College policies and procedures.

Grading Criteria

GRADING:  Students will receive points for the following components:

 

On-line assignments                       100 points

Special Needs Presentation          100 points

2 Articles  @ 50 each                      100 points

5 exams @ 100 each                      500 points

                                    Total               800 points

 

Conversion Chart:

90 – 100 = A                                      720 - 800 = A

80 –  89 = B                                       640 - 719 = B

70 -  79 = C                                        560 - 639 = C

60 -  69 = D                                        480 - 559 = D

Below 60= F                                      000 - 479 = F

 

Things to Remember:

• There is peer tutoring available to you at no cost.  Let me know if you need assistance.
• If for some reason you are unable to complete the class, be sure to notify the instructor and the Registrar’s office before November 16, 2011, which is the last day to drop a class or change from credit to audit.
• Any student, who because of a disabling condition may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements, should contact Accessibility services at 371-5436 as soon as possible.
• You need to schedule time during each week to complete your coursework just as if you were attending an in-person class.  Doing this will help ensure your success.
• The course will run from Monday to Sunday which means a new assignment will open each week beginning on Monday at 6:00 am, and assignments will be due by the following Sunday at 10:00 pm.
• Exams will be open for a three day period, which means that you may take them any time during those three days.
• Please make a strong effort to complete all exams by the deadline date and time.  Make up exams are up to the instructor’s discretion.

 

 

Attendance

Students are expected to attend all class sessions, as well doing coursework online.

Calendar

Additional Information

To satisfactorily complete this course, the student will:

 

1. Read assigned chapters, and view Power Point presentations.

 

1. Participate and complete weekly learning activities (i.e. drop boxes, and other assigned activities

 

1. Complete five examinations over course content throughout the semester.

 

1. Compose a summary of 2 current articles concerning developmental disabilities.  Be prepared to share these with the class.  Any topic mentioned in the text may be the subject of an article summary.  The source for the article may be any specialized journal, magazine, newspaper, or the Internet.  Please include the following in your typed summary:
   1. Title of journal, magazine, or newspaper, or internet website
   2. Title of article and author
   3. Date of publication
   4. A summary statement about the author’s main message
   5. What did you learn from reading the article?
   6. Was this article of value to you?  If so, how?

 

1. Create and present a special need presentation.  It is helpful to have some knowledge of common disabilities.  We can develop a better understanding of children with special needs by knowing general characteristics of their disabilities and how the disabilities may affect their growth and development.  There will be groups of 2 – 3 students, depending on the size of our class, whose task is to research and report on a special need.  You will divide the work among those in the group, and create a Power Point or another approved method to present your topic.  These will be posted and students will comment on the presentations….more to come later about this assignment.  Following is a list of some common disabilities:

Abuse/Neglect    ADHD/ADD   Cerebral Palsy Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Leukemia Nutritional Deficiencies Speech and Language Problems Visual Impairment

Arthritis  Autism (Pervasive Developmental Delays)  Diabetes       Hearing Impairment    Mental Retardation Motor Problems (Gross and Fine) Down Syndrome Fragile X Syndrome

Asthma  Behavioral/Social/Emotional Problems Epilepsy       Learning Disabilities

There may be other disabilities that are of interest to you.  You are not limited to the ones that I have listed, but you do need to let me approve your topic, so we do not have any duplicates.

 

Please include the following in your typed report:

·         Definition of the disability

·         Rate of occurrence and cause

·         Behavioral characteristics

·         Physical characteristics

·         Educational needs

·         Resources (Variety of books, articles, web sites, etc.) minimum of 4

·         Organizations

·         Parent Resources

·         3 or 4 strategies that will help a child in a classroom with this specific disability