Course Description
A problem-based learning and psychosocial lifespan approach to
understanding disability from birth through adolescence is
taken. Students are presented with open-ended, real-life
problems for analysis. Topics explored range from prenatal
diagnosis through childhood and adolescence.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
In addition to completing the assessments listed, graduate
students will be required to choose a topic from the syllabus
and create an annotated bibliography of 15 current sources
(less than 10 years old) that pertain to the topic selected.
Sources must be peer-reviewed journal articles.
Athena Title
Disability Issues in Childhood
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in IHDD 4005S or IHDD 6005S
Undergraduate Pre or Corequisite
IHDD 2001
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate understanding of grand theories of child development and assess the effect of these theories on social and parental expectations.
- Students will comprehend and apply the findings of current research and reports.
- Students will explain the ways in which functional difference may affect bio/psycho/social development.
- Students will gain an understanding of the various ways parents, grandparents, and siblings respond to having a child with a disability in the family.
- Students will identify and propose solutions for social/environmental barriers to the full inclusion of youth with disabilities.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of strengths-based approaches to supporting youth with disabilities.
- Students will apply course material to the lives of children and adolescents living with disabilities in their community through service-learning.
- Students will interact with youth with disabilities and their families appropriately.
- Students will challenge negative/pitying/tragic/heroic attitudes toward youth with disabilities.
- Students will increase interest in working with youth with disabilities/families in their career.
- Students will integrate knowledge into tools for empowering individuals, families, and/or organizations in their community.
Topical Outline
- Prenatal Diagnosis/Medical Ethics
- Birth Through the First Year
- Parental Support Systems (formal and informal)
- Early Intervention (birth-3 years)
- Early Childhood Special Education (3-5 years)
- K-12 Education/Full Inclusion Issues
- Positive Behavior Supports
- Siblings
- Identity Development
- Bullying
- Rites of Passage
- Valued Social Roles/Dignity of Risk
- Friendship
- Dating
- Transitioning to Adult Life
