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Special Education 667

I. Course Title: Language Development and Communication Strategies for Students with Complex Disabilities

II. Course Number: EDSP 667

III. Credit Hours: 3 credits

IV. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.

V. Course Description: This course examines augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for students with complex language and learning needs. It addresses the knowledge and skills needed to assess the potential AAC user, make team decisions, develop and implement communication instruction, and evaluate the effects of instruction with focus on motivating, building and expanding communication, choice-making and social interaction.

VI. Detailed Description of Content of the Course:

This course examines augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for students with complex language and learning needs. This course will provide a basic framework and understanding of the fundamentals, devices, techniques, and strategies used in AAC, including low and high technology assistive tools. Students will gain knowledge and skills needed to a assess the potential AAC user, make team decisions, develop and implement instruction, and evaluate the effects of instruction with focus on motivating, building, and expanding communication, choice-making, and social interaction. Students will be given opportunities to utilize actual AAC devices and/or emulation software and participate in lectures with various professionals workin gin the field of Augmentative Communication. The following areas will be addressed:

Typical and atypical language development
Characteristics of non-symbolic and symbolic communication
Methods of cognitive, behavioral, physical and language assessment related to the process of Feature Analysis
Methods for symbol and message selection
Methods of alternate access available to persons with severe physical impairments
The process for assessing and procuring an AAC device or services

VI. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course:

Learning activities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Learning module lectures, discussion, activities, and participation
Software and hardware demonstrations
Video and other media supports
Group and independent laboratory exploration activities
Class presentations

VII. Goals and Objectives of the Course:

Goals, objectives, and assignments in this class address the Virginia Department of Education regulations for preparing educators and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Initial Preparation Standards and Specialty Set Knowledge and Skills Items. Specialty sets included in this course cover competencies for the Individualized Independence Curriculum.

Upon successful completion of this course, participant will be able to:

Identify characteristics of non-symbolic and symbolic communication.
Understand the typical development of linguistic competence and the complex nature of language acquisition as a precursor to literacy.
Describe language development and emergent literacy skills for students who use augmentative and alternative communication devices and system/assistive technology.
Describe and discuss methods for assessment, identification of priorities, and monitoring progress of individuals with communication impairments.
Discuss and evaluate the range of augmentative and alternative communication devices and systems/assistive technology available for individuals with complex language and learning needs.
Implement assessment strategies to improve students' social interaction with peers and others.
Implement communication/AAC/AT assessment strategies to develop and implement individual educational planning and group instruction with students with disabilities in an adapted curriculum across the K-12 grade levels.
Understand and identify the communicative intent of behavio
Demonstrate knowledge of best practices and strategies in reading and writing instruction for students who use augmentative and alternative communication devices and systems/assistive technology.

VIII. Assessment Measures:

Assessment measures may include, but are not limited to:

Develop, use and reflect on low-tech topic boards for communication and social interaction.
Develop a communication system combining low and high tech to address the communication needs of a student across environments and across the day.
Application activities integrating communication systems and instruction.
Annotated research reviews of evidence-based strategies for incorporating communication instruction in academic instruction and within transitions.
Other applied assignments

Other Course Information: None

Review and Approval

1/31/04 New course Proposal Altieri

2/2020 Course Revisions Altieri