This course will prepare students to work with children at varying levels of language development and with a range of language disorders. An overview of language development, language disorders, assessment and intervention techniques will be covered. Additional focus will be given to information regarding students with autism and augmentative / alternative communication (AAC) systems and strategies.
Credits: 3
Hours: 45 (Lecture Hours: 3)
Total Weeks: 15
Prerequisites:
HDEC 100 Essential Skills for Human Service Workers
HDEC 101 Human Development 1
EDAS 141A Education Assistant Foundations
EDAS 145 Social Foundations of Special Education
EDAS 142A Special Needs
OR permission of instructor
Non-Course Prerequisites:
None
Co-Requisites:
None
Course Content:
Themes:
- Language development
- Language disorders
- Augmentative and alternative communication
Concepts:
- Communication
- Components of language
- Normal language development
- Language and children with learning disabilities
- Adolescents with language impairment
- Language and children with intellectual disabilities
- Language and children with autism
- Language and children with auditory impairments
- Language and linguistically-culturally diverse children
- Children with acquired language disorders
- Language and other special populations of children (gifted, visually impaired, cleft palate, children with neuromotor impairment)
- Augmentative and alternative communication
- Developing/selecting communication systems
- AAC tools and technologies
- AAC support strategies
- Language assessment and intervention
Learning Outcomes:
Overarching Learning Outcome:
The intention of this course is to prepare students to work with children at varying levels of language development and with a range of language disorders. A student who successfully completes this course will be able to:
- Use his/her understanding of language acquisition to support the language development of all children
- Apply his/her understanding of language disorders to identify, respond to and respect the dynamic nature of an individual’s present and emerging communication needs and methods
- Identify and apply strategies to maximize the communication potential of each situation
Specific Learning Outcomes:
A student who successfully completes this course will have reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Identify typical and atypical language development
- Identify the language characteristics of children with language disorders
- Assess the unique nature of an individual’s situation and communication needs
- Assist in the preparation, adaptation/modification of language development activities and resources
- Assist in the development, implementation and modification of methods and tools to meet an individual’s augmentative or alternative communication needs
- Match an individual’s needs and abilities to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) formats and methods
- Match an individual’s needs and abilities to AAC formats and methods
- Assist students to meet their personal learning needs
- Assist in the preparation and organization of appropriate learning environments
Skills:
- Think critically
- Think creatively
- Observe
- Record objectively
- Document
- Communicate clearly – orally and in writing
- Listen actively
- Analyze situations
- Use assessment tools
- Synthesize information
- Identify barriers to communication
- Choose and apply appropriate strategies
- Use AAC tools & technologies
- Use the computer and appropriate programs
- Provide unobtrusive, respectful support
- Use appropriate motivation strategies
- Identify and remover barriers to inclusion
- Work on a team
- Access community resources
Grading System: Letters
Passing Grade: C (60%)
Percentage of Individual Work: 90
Percentage of Group Work: 10
Text Books:
Textbooks are subject to change. Please contact the bookstore at your local campus for current book lists.