12/26/2024 4:30:49 PM	CHLD 53A Course Outline as of Fall 2023	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  CHLD 53A	Title:  INTRO CHILD SPEC NEEDS
Full Title:  Introduction to Children with Special Needs
Last Reviewed:2/13/2023

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		8 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  CHLD 53

Catalog Description:

This course provides students with an introduction to a variety of diagnosed disabilities and other special needs conditions that cause children, birth through age eight, to show atypical development. Students will learn about laws and service provisions related to early intervention and special education. Social and educational implications, culture and family dynamics, and the context of the larger community will be discussed.  This course can be combined with CHLD 53B to fulfill the requirements for specialization units on the Child Development Permit Matrix.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Course Completion of CHLD 10

Recommended Preparation:
Course Eligibility for ENGL C1000 ( or ENGL 1A) and Course Eligibility for ENGL C1000 ( or ENGL 1A) and Course Completion of CHLD 90.2 ( or CHILD 90.2)Course Completion of CHLD 90.2 ( or CHILD 90.2)

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

This course provides students with an introduction to a variety of diagnosed disabilities and other special needs conditions that cause children, birth through age eight, to show atypical development. Students will learn about laws and service provisions related to early intervention and special education. Social and educational implications, culture and family dynamics, and the context of the larger community will be discussed.  This course can be combined with CHLD 53B to fulfill the requirements for specialization units on the Child Development Permit Matrix.

(Grade Only)
Prerequisites:Course Completion of CHLD 10
Recommended:Course Eligibility for ENGL C1000 ( or ENGL 1A) and Course Eligibility for ENGL C1000 ( or ENGL 1A) and Course Completion of CHLD 90.2 ( or CHILD 90.2)Course Completion of CHLD 90.2 ( or CHILD 90.2)
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Apply an understanding of child development and knowledge of disability and special needs conditions to identify atypical developmental behaviors through observation.

2. Assist families in obtaining referrals and accessing community services for their children, including preschool intervention and school-based programs.

3. Evaluate history and the role of the community in shaping current laws related to serving children with special needs and their families.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Recognize and understand a variety of specific diagnosed disabilities and other special needs conditions.

2. Identify atypical developmental indicators through observation based on typical developmental patterns, chronological age norms across developmental domains, and developmental theory.     

3. Summarize existing laws and service provisions for eligible children with disabilities or other special needs.

4. Research services and agencies within the community to assist families in accessing services for their children.             

5. Explain family systems theory as a framework for interactions with family members and child care providers.

6. Introduce the steps in the referral process including observation, screening, assessment and the Individual Education Plan (IEP) and Individual Family Services Plan (IFSP) process.

Topics and Scope

Topics and Scope:

I. Conditions and Diagnoses

    A. Characteristics of specific disabilities

         1. Cerebral palsy

         2. Autism spectrum disorders

          3. Attention Deficit Disorder/with or without hyperactivity (ADD/ADHD)

         4. Down Syndrome

          5. Learning disabilities

          6. Blindness and visual impairment

         7. Deafness and hearing impairment

         8. Speech and language delays

         9. General developmental delays

         10. Health care needs (asthma, seizure disorders, food, and environmental allergies, etc.)

    B. Causes, incidence rates, and developmental implications

    C. Effects of individual disability or special need on family and community interactions

    D. Inclusion

II. Typical and Atypical Development

    A. Review typical developmental patterns, characteristics, and milestones, prenatal to age 8

     B. Developmental domains

         1. Physical, including gross and fine motor; Sensory

         2. Cognitive, including speech, language, and communication

         3. Social and Emotional; Self-Help/adaptive

    C.  Observation and data collection

          1. Screening and assessment tools

         2. Individualized program planning

         3. Collaboration and communication with parents, providers, and specialists

III. Laws and Service Provisions

    A. Historical perspective of public education and civil rights laws for individuals with disabilities including theories and theorist pertaining to children with special needs

    B. Civil rights laws

         1. Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

         2. California Unruh Civil Rights Act: Access and Reasonable Accommodations

    C. Education and Early Intervention Laws

         1. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

         2. Early Head Start/Head Start Legislation

         3. Section 504 provisions

     D. Advocacy related to children with special needs

     E. Least Restrictive Environment

IV. Referral Process and Community Resources

    A. Community-based agencies and services

          1. Educational services

               a. Public school districts

              b. Private schools

              c. Learning centers

              d. Local agencies and services

         2. Developmental services

               a. California Regional Centers

              b. Easter Seals

              c. Specialized therapy programs

              d. Local providers of services

    B. Medical services

     C. Introduction to careers in the field

         1. Educational jobs, including teachers and paraprofessionals

         2. Early intervention and other disability specialists

         3. Therapists

V. Family Systems

     A. Family systems approach

          1. Family structure

         2. Function and roles

    B. Strength-based approach

    C. Strategies for collaboration with families and other professionals to support optimal development

    D. Emotional reactions to having a family member with a disability

    E. Diversity and cultural awareness

     F. Ethics and confidentiality

Assignments:

The course will include some or all of the following assignments:

 

Reading and Discussion

Reading and discussion of assigned text and handouts; approximately 30 pages per week.

 

Writing

1. Reading and analysis of a blog written by a parent of child(ren) with special needs, one paper (2-4 pages)

2. Written observation and analysis of children with special needs using developmental terminology (2-4 observations of approximately 2-5 pages)

3. Journals of reflective writing on readings, guest speakers and lecture topics (Approximately 2-4 journal entries of 3 to 5 pages each)

 

Skill Demonstrations

1. Participation in and analysis of a career panel presentation on topics related to identifying and serving children with special needs

2. Practice completion of an Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)

3. Group project: mock parent meeting on Ages and Stages Questionnaire and Individual Education/ Individual Family Service Plans

4. Term project: portfolio development using observation, research, and application of developmental theory and terminology related to the young child with special needs

 

Exams

1. Quizzes (2-5)

2. Essay exam(s) (1-2)

3. Final exam, on readings, terminology, presentations, and lectures

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 20 - 30%
Blog analyses; observations analyses; journals
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 30 - 60%
Career panel presentation; practice ASQ; mock parent meeting; portfolio development.
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 10 - 30%
Quizzes, essay exam(s), final
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 5 - 10%
Class participation, small and large group activities

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

The Exceptional Child: Inclusion in Early Childhood Education. 7th ed. Allen, K. Eileen and Cowdery, Glynnis E. Thomson/Delmar Learning. 2011 (classic).

Young Children with Special Needs, 5th ed. Hooper, Stephen and Umansky, Warren. Pearson. 2008 (classic).

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) Disabilities Fact Sheets

Instructor prepared materials

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