Special Education 101

no certificate
with CEU Certificate*
-
20Lessons
-
22Exams &
Assignments -
55Students
have taken this course -
11Hours
average time -
1.1CEUs
Course Description
Special Education 101 explains why people with disabilities deserve respect rather than pity in their quest for full engagement in school and post school life, why special education is mandated by policy and law to meet the education needs of students with disabilities, how its goals are affected by the nation's commitment to equalize educational opportunities for this group of learners, the revolutionary basis of these equal opportunity goals, why an equalized educational experience should empower students with disabilities to be self-determined at school and beyond, and how current practice falls far short of these equal rights expectations.
Special education is special because of its unique resources, its impact on student performance, and the effective teaching practices that mediate between resources and performance. Special education emphasizes individualized instruction, smaller classes, and more highly trained teachers and is supported by large amounts of research and development.
This course is divided into three sections. The first five lessons are an Introduction to Disability. In those lessons, you will investigate the history of disability, beginning in ancient times through the present day. You will also learn about the 13 categories of disability and which are the most and least frequently occurring. You will also learn about students that are gifted and talented.
The second five lessons are related to Setting Up Special Education Services. Those five lessons address federal special education law and the special education programming and services that are mandated by the law. A life-span approach is taken, as you will learn about early intervention for babies and toddlers with disabilities all the way through the transition from high school into adulthood.
Notes:
1. In the lessons in this course, you will see the term "the student" referred to frequently. Rather than saying "he or she" each time, some lessons will say "he" and some will say "she."
2. You will also see the term "students with disabilities" used, although many educators in school settings use the term "special education students". Language is important and it is more respectful to recognize a person before the disability – talking about what a person HAS (a disability) rather than what a person IS (special education student). When you use the phrase "student with…" (autism, cognitive impairment, learning disability, etc.), you are using person-first language, which is considered a best practice in the field of disability.
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- Printable Lessons
- Full HD Video
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs

Course Lessons
Lesson 1: An Early History of Disability
Lesson 1 Video
Review Article: Disability History: Early and Shifting Attitudes of Treatment
Review Video: Willowbrook Documentary
Take Survey: Reasons for Taking this Course
Complete Assignment: Why I'm Interested in Special Education
Complete: Lesson 1 Exam
Lesson 2: Special Education Evolves (1975-present day)
Lesson 2 Video
Review 3 Articles: A Brief History of the Disability Rights Movement; Disability Rights in the 1960s and 70s; Timeline of disability rights in the United States
Review Video: Willowbrook 25 Years Later
Complete: Lesson 2 Exam
Lesson 3: High-Incidence Disabilities
Lesson 3 Video
Review 4 Articles: Low and High Incidence Disability; Autism Spectrum Disorders; Speech and Language Impairments; Types of Learning Disabilities
Complete: Lesson 3 Exam
Lesson 4: Low-Incidence Disabilities
Lesson 4 Video
Review 5 Articles: Intellectual Disability; Emotional Disturbance; Multiple Disabilities; Hearing Impairments; Orthopedic Impairments
Complete: Lesson 4 Exam
Lesson 5: Gifted and Talented
Lesson 5 Video
Review 2 Articles: Who Are The 'Gifted And Talented' And What Do They Need?; What Does Being Gifted Really Mean?
Complete: Lesson 5 Exam
Lesson 6: Individualized Education Programs
Lesson 6 Video
Review 2 Articles: Individualized Education Programs; The IEP Process Explained
Complete: Lesson 6 Exam
Lesson 7: Inclusion and the Continuum of Services
Lesson 7 Video
Review 2 Articles: The Continuum of Special Education Services; Understanding Diversity and Inclusion
Complete: Lesson 7 Exam
Lesson 8: Early Intervention
Lesson 8 Video
Review Article: Top 5 Benefits of Early Intervention
Complete: Lesson 8 Exam
Lesson 9: Transition
Lesson 9 Video
Review 2 Articles: 5 Ways to Support Youth with Disabilities in Transition Planning; Middle and High School Transition Planning
Complete: Lesson 9 Exam
Lesson 10: Community-Based Instruction and Services
Lesson 10 Video
Review Article: The Importance of Community-Based Instruction for Individuals with Autism Across the Lifespan
Complete: Lesson 10 Exam
Lesson 11: Working with Parents and Families
Lesson 11 Video
Review Article: Working With Parents of Students With Disabilities
Complete: Lesson 11 Exam
Lesson 12: Culturally Responsive Practice
Lesson 12 Video
Review 2 Articles: Culturally responsive instruction for students with multiple or severe physical impairments; 5 Ways Culturally Responsive Teaching Benefits Learners
Complete: Lesson 12 Exam
Lesson 13: Making Accommodations and Modifications
Lesson 13 Video
Review 2 Articles: Supports, Modifications, and Accommodations for Students; The Difference Between Accommodations and Modifications
Complete: Lesson 13 Exam
Lesson 14: Using Technology with Students with Disabilities
Lesson 14 Video
Review 2 Articles: The Use Of Technology In Special Education; 15 Assistive Technology Tools and Resources For Students With Disabilities
Complete: Lesson 14 Exam
Lesson 15: Assessment in Special Education
Lesson 15 Video
Review 2 Articles: NASET Assessment in Special Education Series; The Importance of the Assessment Process
Complete: Lesson 15 Exam
Lesson 16: Teaching Reading, Language Arts, and Writing
Lesson 16 Video
Review 2 Articles: English Language Arts Strategies for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities; Teaching Students with Reading Difficulties and Disabilities
Complete: Lesson 16 Exam
Lesson 17: Teaching Mathematics
Lesson 17 Video
Review 2 Articles: Strategies and Interventions to Support Students with Mathematics Disabilities; Adapting Mathematics Core Curricula to Meet the Needs of Students with Disabilities
Complete: Lesson 17 Exam
Lesson 18: Addressing Challenging Behavior
Lesson 18 Video
Review 2 Articles: Addressing Challenging Behavior ? Introduction; Strategies to address challenging behavior in young children with Down syndrome
Complete: Lesson 18 Exam
Lesson 19: Teaching Students with Severe and Low-Incidence Disabilities
Lesson 19 Video
Review 2 Articles: The Persistence of Highly Restrictive Special Education Placements for Students With Low-Incidence Disabilities; Curriculum Access for Students with LowIncidence Disabilities: The Promise of Universal Design for Learning
Complete: Lesson 19 Exam
Lesson 20: Becoming a Special Education Teacher
Lesson 20 Video
Review 2 Articles: How to Become a Special Education Teacher; Why I Became a Special Education Teacher
Take Poll: End of Course Poll
Take Survey: Course Comments
Complete: Lesson 20 Exam
Complete: The Final Exam
Learning Outcomes
- Describe the equal opportunity foundation.
- Describe the emergence of equal opportunity ethics.
- Describe legitimizing the equal opportunity ethic.
- Describe equal opportunity for people with disabilities.
- Summarize the three self-determination revolutions.
- Describe equalizing educational opportunities for black students.
- Describe applying the equal opportunity principle for students with disabilities.
- Explain how equal opportunity affects self-determination.
- Explain how special education affects students with disabilities, and
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Additional Course Information

- Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
- Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
- Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
- View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
- Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media

Choose Your Subscription Plan
No Certificate / No CEUs
This course only
Includes certificate | X |
Includes CEUs | X |
Self-paced |
![]() |
Instructor support |
![]() |
Time to complete | 6 months |
No. of courses | 1 course |
Certificate & CEUs
This course only
Includes certificate |
![]() |
Includes CEUs |
![]() |
Self-paced |
![]() |
Instructor support |
![]() |
Time to complete | 6 months |
No. of courses | 1 course |
Certificates & CEUs
Includes all 500+ courses
Includes certificate |
![]() |
Includes CEUs |
![]() |
Self-paced |
![]() |
Instructor support |
![]() |
Time to complete | 12 Months |
No. of courses | 500+ |
Certificates & CEUs
Includes all 500+ courses
Includes certificate |
![]() |
Includes CEUs |
![]() |
Self-paced |
![]() |
Instructor support |
![]() |
Time to complete | 24 Months |
No. of courses | 500+ |
Student Testimonials
- "The lessons and texts provided were very comprehensive and informative....The course contianed a wealth of information on issues affecting special education. There was prompt feedback regarding questions that I had, as well as prompt reporting of test results. I felt that the instructor was very attentive to my progress in the course." -- Therese B.