Introduction to Disabilities for Education Professionals

This course focuses on the physical, cognitive, behavioral, and psychological aspects of the atypical developmental patterns of children and adolescents with varying disabilities. Emphasis is given to the conceptual frameworks for understanding normalcy, including cultural, racial, ethnic and linguistic expectations, family, community, and peer group norms, and gender roles and stereotypes within the context of today's urban schools. Legal definitions of disabilities are stressed as well as the range of learning differences within typical development. This course includes a fieldwork component