Online Class: Introduction to Special Education

This innovative online special education course is for teachers wanting to update their professional skills, classroom assistants seeking more knowledge about the field and parents trying to understand how best to argue for equal opportunities in special education.
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  • 20
    Lessons
  • 22
    Exams &
    Assignments
  • 803
    Students
    have taken this course
  • 11
    Hours
    average time
  • 1.1
    CEUs
 
 

Course Description

Empowering Through Special Education: A Comprehensive Journey

Dive into the world of Special Education with a course that champions not just the teaching methodologies but also the ethos of respect and empowerment that this field signifies. Special Education 101 seeks to dispel the myths surrounding disabilities, emphasizing the capabilities and potential inherent in every individual, rather than focusing on limitations.

Why is special education pivotal? Why, in a nation pledged to equal opportunities for all, is there a pressing need to ensure these rights for students with disabilities? Discover the transformative and revolutionary ideals underpinning special education. While the ideals are robust, the execution often lacks; this course delves deep into bridging that chasm.

The realm of special education in the U.S., despite its recent origin, has undergone momentous evolution. Celebrate its unique dynamism: where no two days are alike, and each student's journey is unparalleled. As highlighted by eminent scholars Douglas and Lynn Fuchs, special education stands distinct, enriched by its specialized resources, research-backed methodologies, and the accent on tailored instruction.

The course unfolds in three enlightening sections:

  1. Delving into Disability: Traversing through history, from ancient civilizations to the contemporary era, understand the 13 categories of disability and acquaint yourself with the spectrum of gifted and talented students.
  2. Foundations of Special Education Services: Decipher the legal framework underpinning special education, unraveling the services mandated by law. Adopt a holistic view, starting with interventions for infants to the crucial transition from high school to adult life.
  3. Mastering Teaching Techniques: Immerse yourself in the nuances of teaching core subjects, addressing challenging behaviors, harnessing assistive technology, and exploring the realm of accommodations and modifications.

Perfect for educators looking to refresh their pedagogical toolkit, support staff wishing to delve deeper, and parents eager to advocate ardently for their child's rights. This course eliminates the constraints of geography and rigid timelines. Engage, learn, and evolve at your own pace. Propel forward in your quest for inclusive, compassionate, and effective education. Join us and be part of the movement advocating for true educational equity!

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.

Courses Frequently Bought Together:
  • 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
Universal Class is an IACET Accredited Provider
 

Course Lessons

Average Lesson Rating:
4.4 / 5 Stars (Average Rating)
"Extraordinarily Helpful"
(2,377 votes)

Lesson 1: An Early History of Disability

In this lesson, you will learn how disability was viewed in ancient times and how that view evolved through the mid-20th century. Additional lesson topics: Disability History: Early and Shifting Attitudes of Treatment; Willowbrook Documentary 12 Total Points
  • Lesson 1 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Reasons for Taking this Course
  • Complete Assignment: Why I'm Interested in Special Education
  • Assessment: Lesson 1 Exam

Lesson 2: Special Education Evolves (1975-present day)

In this lesson, you will learn about the legislation and court cases that have formed special education in its current state in the U.S. Additional lesson topics: Disability Rights in the 1960s and 70s; Timeline of disability rights in the United States; Willowbrook Several Years Later; A Brief History of the Disability Rights Movement 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 2 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 2 Exam

Lesson 3: High-Incidence Disabilities

Students with high-incidence disabilities comprise between 80% and 90% of all students with disabilities. Additional lesson topics: Autism Spectrum Disorders; Speech and Language Impairments; Types of Learning Disabilities; Low and High Incidence Disability 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 3 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 3 Exam

Lesson 4: Low-Incidence Disabilities

In this lesson, you will learn about low-incidence disabilities, those that affect a far smaller number of students. Additional lesson topics: Emotional Disturbance; Orthopedic Impairments; Multiple Disabilities; Intellectual Disability; Hearing Impairments 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 4 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 4 Exam

Lesson 5: Gifted and Talented

In this lesson, you are going to learn about a different type of exceptionality than what has been discussed in prior lessons. Previously, you learned about students that have disabilities that adversely impact their educational progress. Additional lesson topics: Who Are The 'Gifted and Talented' and What Do They Need?; What Does Being Gifted Really Mean? 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 5 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 5 Exam

Lesson 6: Individualized Education Programs

When a student is determined to be eligible for special education services, it is assumed that the student will have instruction that is specific to their needs. Additional lesson topics: Individualized Education Programs; The IEP Process Explained 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 6 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 6 Exam

Lesson 7: Inclusion and the Continuum of Services

In this lesson, you will learn about the potential range of placements that is also required by IDEA, which is the continuum of services. Additional lesson topics: The Continuum of Special Education Services; Understanding Diversity and Inclusion 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 7 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 7 Exam

Lesson 8: Early Intervention

In this lesson, you will learn about early intervention services that are designed for children with developmental delays and disabilities. Additional lesson topics: Early Intervention Part C of IDEA ; Several Benefits of Early Intervention 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 8 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 8 Exam

Lesson 9: Transition

In this lesson, you will learn about the concept of transition. Additional lesson topics: 5 Ways to Support Youth with Disabilities in Transition Planning; Middle and High School Transition Planning 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 9 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 9 Exam

Lesson 10: Community-Based Instruction and Services

In this lesson, you are going to learn about community-based instruction and how it can be implemented effectively with students with disabilities. Additional lesson topics: The Importance of Community-Based Instruction for Individuals with Autism Across the Lifespan; Community-Based Instruction 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 10 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 10 Exam

Lesson 11: Working with Parents and Families

In this lesson, you will learn about the requirements for parental involvement in special education, the roles that parents play in special education, and strategies for involving parents in school. Additional lesson topics: Working With Parents of Students With Disabilities 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 11 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 11 Exam

Lesson 12: Culturally Responsive Practice

In this lesson, you will learn what culturally responsive practice looks like, a rationale for using culturally responsive practice, and the main competencies that teachers must have to be considered a culturally responsive educator. Additional lesson topics: Culturally responsive instruction for students with multiple or severe physical impairments; Several Ways Culturally Responsive Teaching Benefits Learners 11 Total Points
  • Lesson 12 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 12 Exam

Lesson 13: Making Accommodations and Modifications

In this lesson, you are going to learn about how these adjustments that teachers make to the learning environment, instruction, and assessments to help "level the playing field" for students with disabilities. Additional lesson topics: Supports, Modifications, and Accommodations for Students; The Difference Between Accommodations and Modifications 9 Total Points
  • Lesson 13 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 13 Exam

Lesson 14: Using Technology with Students with Disabilities

In this lesson, you will learn the benefits of using technology to support student learning, along with the role of assistive technology. Additional lesson topics: The Use Of Technology In Special Education; Several Assistive Technology Tools and Resources For Students With Disabilities 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 14 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 14 Exam

Lesson 15: Assessment in Special Education

In this lesson, you will learn about the various forms of assessments, their purposes, and examples of each. Additional lesson topics: NASET Assessment in Special Education Series; The Importance of the Assessment Process 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 15 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 15 Exam

Lesson 16: Teaching Reading, Language Arts, and Writing

Students with disabilities are often at risk for these consequences, as reading challenges are commonplace with this population. Therefore, effective reading instruction that is supported by research is a critical part of special education. Additional lesson topics: English Language Arts Strategies for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities; Teaching Students with Reading Difficulties and Disabilities 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 16 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 16 Exam

Lesson 17: Teaching Mathematics

In this lesson, you will learn about what math learning encompasses in PreK-12 schools. Additional lesson topics: Strategies and Interventions to Support Students with Mathematics Disabilities; Adapting Mathematics Core Curricula to Meet the Needs of Students with Disabilities 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 17 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 17 Exam

Lesson 18: Addressing Challenging Behavior

In this lesson, you will learn the basic tenets of behavior, why students act out in the first place, types of behavior challenges that occur in classrooms, IEP requirements for students with behavior disorders, and ways to positively address challenging behavior. Additional lesson topics: Addressing Challenging Behavior – Introduction; Strategies to address challenging behavior in young children with Down syndrome 9 Total Points
  • Lesson 18 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 18 Exam

Lesson 19: Teaching Students with Severe and Low-Incidence Disabilities

In this lesson, you will learn about typical school experiences and settings that are most common for students with severe disabilities, instructional strategies that are supported by empirical research, and knowledge and skills that students with severe disabilities need to learn. Additional lesson topics: 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 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 19 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 19 Exam

Lesson 20: Becoming a Special Education Teacher

This lesson includes information that prospective special educators should know about teaching in this field, skills that exemplary special educators should have, the requirements that individuals must meet in order to become a special education teacher, and tips for new teachers. Additional lesson topics: How to Become a Special Education Teacher; Why I Became a Special Education Teacher 80 Total Points
  • Lesson 20 Video
  • Lesson discussions: End of Course Poll; Course Comments
  • Assessment: Lesson 20 Exam
  • Assessment: The Final Exam
271
Total Course Points
 

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  • 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.
  • Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
 

Additional Course Information

Online CEU Certificate
  • 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
Document Your CEUs on Your Resume
 
Course Title: Introduction to Special Education
Course Number: 9770591
Lessons Rating: 4.4 / 5 Stars (2,377 votes)
Languages: English - United States, Canada and other English speaking countries
Availability: This course is online and available in all 50 states including: California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas.
Last Updated: June 2023
Course Type: Self-Paced, Online Class
CEU Value: 1.1 IACET CEUs (Continuing Education Units)
CE Accreditation: Universal Class, Inc. has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).
Grading Policy: Earn a final grade of 70% or higher to receive an online/downloadable CEU Certification documenting CEUs earned.
Assessment Method: Lesson assignments and review exams
Instructor: UniversalClass Instructional Team
Syllabus: View Syllabus
Course Fee: $95.00 U.S. dollars

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Student Testimonials

  • "This course was very helpful because I work in Special Ed as a Paraprofessional. I would recommend it to everyone." -- Wendy B.
  • "This was such a beneficial class for me. Though I have been a Special Education Teacher for three years now, my program did not go into this amount of depth. I feel I can go back to teaching as a better teacher. Thank you so much!" -- Lisa S.
  • "This course was really helpful, it helps me to learn more about kids with disabilities and I think everyone should know all of it." -- Busin M.
  • "I thought this course was extremely helpful. It did a great job of starting with the timeline of special education. I liked the breakdown of information from high and low-incidence disabilities to IEPs, transition, assessments, etc. Again, I thought the course did a great job in helping me understand special education on a level that I can understand." -- Anna S.
  • "I think it is a very helpful course and gives great information on Special Education." -- Elizabeth T.
  • "This course was extremely helpful." -- Hayley R.
  • "I really enjoyed it very much!" -- Kimberly A.
  • "This has been a very helpful course." -- Katie K.
  • "The course contained 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.
  • "The lessons and texts provided were very comprehensive and informative." -- Therese B.

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