All people, regardless of their limitations, can learn. This course presents insight and develops skills to help people with special needs reach their greatest personal potential. The overall goal is to directly enhance the functional skills and personal independence of people with these disabilities using proven and specialized training. In addition, various general topics related to this population are also presented. Functional skills across seven different domains of learning are presented. Experienced or novice instructors can benefit by learning specific techniques and lesson plans. Parents can benefit as well as the teaching techniques are presented in a straight forward manner. Upon concluding the course the student should acquire insight into various disorders, be able to give an assessment, use established lesson plans, create new person centered lessons and be able to objectively demonstrate where a person with special needs has grown from teaching efforts. This course creates a practical skill that is highly accountable and directly usable in teaching people with developmental disabilities.

Thirty one class sessions are provided during this training. The training sessions are designed to teach the skills needed to master the Functional Independence Skills Handbook program, designed to help people with special needs in gaining more personal independence.

1.) A sincere desire to help people with special needs in achieving the most functional personal independence possible and a belief that ANYONE can learn.
2.) Some insight into basic teaching concepts.
3.) A willingness to approach teaching people with disabilities in a manner that promotes helping them to gain more personal independence.

1.) To demonstrate insight into various aspects of people with special needs.
2.) To become proficient in administering the Functional Independence Skills Handbook assessment.
3.) To demonstrate skills in making and using creative lesson plans focused to the unique personal needs of the student.

The student will need to purchase The Functional Independence Skills Handbook or F.I.S.H. program. The easiest location to acquire the text is at:
http://www.proedinc.com/store/index.php?mode=product_detail&id=10900

While it often takes about two weeks for the text to arrive the student should be able to begin classes without it for that period of time.

A score of 85% or higher is required for all exams. Students can retake the exams as much as they desire. The key is for the student to learn and demonstrate skilled knowledge, not to perform flawlessly on the first try.

The fastest time known for completing the course is around one month. Most students need about two and one-half to three months to complete the course. However, students are encouraged to take as much time as they need.

The issues discussed or presented in each session of learning are as follows:

Session 1- Learning Theory
Session 2- Developmental Milestones
Session 3- The Brain
Session 4- Genetic Issues
Session 5- Diagnostic Concepts
Session 6- Vision
Session 7- Hearing
Session 8- Mental Retardation
Session 9- Metabolic Disorders
Session 10- Self Abuse
Session 11- Epilepsy
Session 12- Osteoporosis
Session 13- Dysphasia
Session 14- Autism
Session 15- Cerebral Palsy
Session 16- Fragile X
Session 17- Down Syndrome
Session 18- ADD/ADHD
Session 19- Behavior Disorders
Session 20- Mental Health Disorders
Session 21- Speech & Language
Session 22- Motor Development
Session 23- Teaching Reading
Session 24- Assistive Devices
Session 25- Dealing w/ Families
Session 26- FISH Overview
Session 27- FISH Assessment
Session 28- FISH Lesson Plans
Session 29-Teaching Techniques
Session 30- Using the Appendices
Session 31- Case Studies

The teaching strategy in this program is to present both general and specific information related to people with special needs and the F.I.S.H. program using thirty one training sessions. Within some sessions, cross referencing of information can be seen. This means that as a topic is being discussed, a location elsewhere in the program that contains more information on the subject is given as a reference. At the end of each session a summary portion is provided. It is suggested that if the student desires to take the exams related to this program that upon completing the program, each of the summaries should be read again. If the student feels that he or she understands the concepts and related information in the summaries, it is likely that he or she is ready to take the exams.