Introduction to Special Education

Empowering Educators to Illuminate Every Path

Introduction to Special Education

Empowering Educators to Illuminate Every Path

Unlock a world of opportunity with our Introduction to Special Education course, where your journey transforms into an empowering mission. Imagine a world where every student, regardless of disability, thrives--and you are at the forefront of their success. This essential course dismantles myths, celebrates individual strengths, and provides you with groundbreaking insights and tools tailored to foster inclusive education. Whether you're an educator, parent, or advocate, this course is designed not just to educate but to inspire. Step into a dynamic environment that evolves with each groundbreaking discovery, dedicated to transforming the educational landscape. Elevate your understanding, amplify your impact, and fuel your passion for equity. Enroll now and become an architect of change in the world of Special Education!

Self Paced • Online Class • 11 Hours

$120

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"Extraordinarily Helpful"

1,063 Students have taken this course

Join Now

OVERVIEW

CURRICULUM

Introduction to Special Education

Name: Introduction to Special Education
Price: 95.00 USD

CRN: 9770591

Lesson 1. Ancient Views on Disability: Reverence, Rejection, and Resilience

During the Renaissance, scientific inquiry began challenging religious narratives around disabilities, leading to advancements in education and understanding. By the Industrial Revolution, institutional care emerged, contrasting with later 20th-century advocacy that pushed for legal protections and rights.

Lesson 2. Special Education: From Courtrooms to Classrooms

Tracing its legacy from litigation to empowerment, special education in the U.S. has been shaped decisively by landmark legal victories and policy developments advocating inclusive learning. Modern advancements in assistive technologies further drive the movement, enabling students with disabilities to overcome barriers and fully participate alongside peers in educational settings.

Lesson 3. The Hidden Challenges of High-Incidence Disabilities

Other health impairments such as ADHD and diabetes impact educational engagement through issues like attentiveness and the need for health regimens, thus requiring collaborative assessments among educators and medical professionals. Understanding the educational implications of these health conditions allows for a holistic approach in supporting affected students.

Lesson 4. Navigating Unique Learning Needs

Low-incidence disabilities impact a small student population but crucially influence affected families, challenging educators to create inclusive learning. Understanding their rarity and complexity, this lesson emphasizes empathy, tailored strategies, and interdisciplinary approaches to unleash student potential.

Lesson 5. The Spectrum of Exceptionality: Gifted and Talented Explained

Giftedness can appear as a wide array of abilities from creative thinking to leadership, with the Theory of Multiple Intelligences by Howard Gardner broadening the understanding of intelligence. States require specialized instruction for gifted students, recognizing their distinct educational needs.

Lesson 6. Navigating the IEP Process: From RTI to Student Success

The IEP framework encompasses evaluations, goal setting, and specialized service planning, involving educators, support staff, and parents at every stage. With progress monitoring and annual updates, IEPs provide adaptable strategies to meet students' evolving educational needs effectively.

Lesson 7. Understanding the Continuum of Services

This lesson stresses IDEA's requirement for individualized education programs that promote the least restrictive environment, ensuring students with disabilities are educated alongside their peers whenever possible. It outlines the continuum of placements, from general classrooms to hospitals, and discusses the trend toward inclusive education supported by co-teaching models where general and special education teachers collaborate.

Lesson 8. Early Intervention: Building Foundations for Future Learning

Early intervention programs provide significant benefits by addressing developmental issues early, enriching children's growth, supporting families, and laying a solid foundation for future learning. Research shows lasting positive effects of early intervention, even extending into adolescence and adulthood, particularly when interventions are focused on both children and their parents.

Lesson 9. From High School to Independence: A Comprehensive Guide to Transition

Planning for the transition of students with disabilities is crucial and begins well before high school, involving educators, family, and natural supports to ensure these students are prepared for independent adulthood. With a focus on self-advocacy and realistic goals, students become active participants in their future success, whether in continued education, employment, or community involvement.

Lesson 10. Teaching Practical Life Skills in Authentic Environments

CBI enables students with disabilities to learn and apply skills in real-world contexts, enhancing their independence, social skills, and future employment opportunities. The approach requires careful planning, collaboration with families, and the cooperation of local businesses to address logistical challenges, ensuring its success.

Lesson 11. Empowering Families in the Special Education Journey

Mrs. Dunn broke through negative expectations by giving Charles responsibilities and positive reinforcement, leading to a transformation in his behavior and academic performance. This example underscores the broader importance of parental involvement in education, particularly for children with disabilities, as highlighted by the IDEA mandates and parental empowerment through advocacy and communication.

Lesson 12. Empowering Through Cultural Responsiveness in Education

Culturally responsive teaching transcends traditional instruction by deeply integrating students' cultural contexts into the learning experience. This approach is essential not only for fostering inclusive environments but also for enhancing critical thinking, motivation, and the social-emotional development of marginalized students.

Lesson 13. Universal Design in Education: Teaching All Students

Universal design principles in education help create inclusive lessons that engage all students, including those with disabilities, by offering multiple means of engagement, action, and representation. Accommodations and modifications can further tailor educational experiences, ensuring students with disabilities access the curriculum effectively.

Lesson 14. Leveraging Technology for Equitable Education

Use of technology in classrooms has revolutionized learning outcomes for students with disabilities, promoting self-reliance and reducing anxiety. This lesson addresses assistive technology benefits, practical applications, and related challenges like cost and required educator training.

Lesson 15. Key Assessment Strategies in Special Education

Criterion-referenced tests assess student knowledge against specific standards, while norm-referenced tests compare student performance to peers, both serving distinct roles in educational evaluation. These assessments are crucial in special education for understanding a student's position relative to both preset learning objectives and peer performance.

Lesson 16. Building Blocks of Literacy: Essential Reading Instruction

The ability to read is critical for accessing information and improving life opportunities, yet many struggle with literacy, particularly students with disabilities, emphasizing the need for effective, research-based literacy education that applies broadly. Core components like phonemic awareness, alphabetic code mastery, fluency, and comprehension, alongside methodologies like Orton-Gillingham, Barton, and Lexia, are pivotal for developing reading skills and supporting those with learning needs.

Lesson 17. Conceptual vs. Procedural Math Learning

High-quality math instruction can significantly benefit students with disabilities, who face challenges due to the abstract nature of math and related cognitive difficulties. By employing effective strategies and providing meaningful engagement, educators can greatly enhance the learning experience for these students.

Lesson 18. Mastering Behavior: Techniques for a Positive Classroom

In today's educational landscape, teachers face diverse behavior challenges, ranging from disruptive to violent actions, which can be influenced by various internal and external factors. By employing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and crafting individualized plans, educators can address these behaviors by promoting positive responses and establishing clear, consistent expectations.

Lesson 19. Effective Strategies for Special Education

Working with students with severe disabilities requires educators to implement research-based strategies, enabling progress in areas like academics and social skills. Through structured teaching environments, such as general education inclusion and self-contained classrooms, students can achieve meaningful social and educational growth.

Lesson 20. Navigating the Challenges and Triumphs of Special Education

Teaching students with disabilities involves isolating environments, managing extensive paperwork, and developing profound relationships with students. Success in this field relies heavily on possessing organizational skills, adaptability, and a deep belief in every child's learning potential.

In This Course

11 Hours average completion time
1.1 CEUs
20 Lessons
25 Exams & Assignments
133 Discussions
20 Videos
64 Reference Files
122 Articles
Mobile Friendly
Last Updated November 2025

Description

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:

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.
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.
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.

Skills You'll Develop

Disability awareness and advocacy skills
Collaborative assessment and intervention
Assistive technology integration
Cultural responsiveness in education
Parental involvement strategies
Inclusive teaching methodologies
Behavior management techniques
Universal design application
Foundations of literacy and numeracy instruction
Legal knowledge in special education
IEP process and planning

Skills You'll Develop

Disability awareness and advocacy skills
Collaborative assessment and intervention
Assistive technology integration
Cultural responsiveness in education
Parental involvement strategies
Inclusive teaching methodologies
Behavior management techniques
Universal design application
Foundations of literacy and numeracy instruction
Legal knowledge in special education
IEP process and planning

More About This Course

Develop Cultural Responsiveness: Foster inclusive and respectful environments.
Boost Literacy Instruction: Apply research-based reading methodologies.
Master IEP Processes: Navigate individualized education program planning.
Gain Legal Knowledge: Decipher special education laws and rights.
Support Transition Planning: Prepare students for life beyond high school.
Explore Historical Perspectives: Understand ancient to modern disability views.
Learn Empowering Teaching Techniques: Transform your pedagogical practice.
Enhance Inclusion Strategies: Promote least restrictive environments in schools.
Use Assistive Technology: Implement tools for student success.
Excel in Behavior Management: Master positive reinforcement techniques.
Improve Assessment Skills: Learn key evaluation strategies for students.

What You'll Achieve

Define historical perspectives on disability by identifying key societal attitudes from ancient to modern times, including reverence, rejection, and resilience.
Analyze the evolution of disability inclusion by comparing ancient practices with contemporary viewpoints, focusing on policy, societal values, and technological advancements.
Recognize the historical milestones that have shaped special education policies from the 1950s to the present.
Identify the key federal legislations and legal cases that have contributed to the evolution of special education rights and inclusion.
Demonstrate an understanding of high-incidence disabilities by identifying key characteristics and challenges associated with specific learning disabilities, speech and language impairments, and other health impairments.
Analyze assessment strategies by describing the multifaceted evaluation processes used to identify high-incidence disabilities, highlighting the importance of tailored educational strategies for student success.
Define the characteristics of students with low-incidence disabilities, including intellectual and orthopedic impairments, through analysis of case studies and statistical data.
Demonstrate empathy and understanding by applying inclusive educational strategies tailored to the needs of students with multiple disabilities, incorporating assistive technology and adaptive communication methods.
Identify and categorize the various types of giftedness and talent as described in educational frameworks, including creative thinking, intellectual ability, and leadership.
Demonstrate an understanding of the challenges faced by gifted and talented students, such as perfectionism and social maturity, by analyzing case studies or scenarios.
Demonstrate the ability to explain the key components and purpose of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) as outlined by the IDEA
Identify and differentiate between the three tiers of the Response to Intervention (RTI) process and analyze their roles in guiding students to special education evaluation
Recognize the importance of the continuum of services in providing individualized education for students with disabilities as outlined under IDEA.

Discover More Skills Like These

Homeschooling

Health & Medicine

Accounting and Bookkeeping

What Others Are Saying

"Extraordinarily Helpful"

★★★★★

This course was very helpful because I work in Special Ed as a Paraprofessional. I would recommend it to everyone.

Wendy B.

"Extraordinarily Helpful"

★★★★★

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.

"Extraordinarily Helpful"

★★★★★

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.

"Extraordinarily Helpful"

★★★★★

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.

Related Courses