Posted: February 27th, 2023

Special Education

Slide Show

Exploring Disability Profile Characteristics, Needs, and Reliable Sources

Objectives: 

1. Develop a better understanding of one of the characteristics of one disability area that we have learned about thus far in the semester. (These include
severe/multiple disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and learning disabilities)  

2. Gather information that can be used for the final paper. This serves as a form of scaffolding, which is an instructional strategy that breaks up long-term learning into manageable chunks with built-in supports. 

3. Demonstrate an understanding of what constitutes a reliable source and where to find them. 

Directions: 

Imagine a student with one of the disabilities that we have learned about thus far (severe/multiple disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and learning disabilities) has just joined your class. Choose one of those disabilities and imagine this fictional student. Your task is to utilize reliable sources to explain to your school community, co-teacher, instructional assistant, etc., the unique characteristics of the disability and the learning needs of students with this disability. Create a visually-appealing product (slide show, infographic, research brief, video,
other option) that explains the disability characteristics and learning needs of this fictional student. You do not need to create this student, but rather utilize what you have learned from class and your sources to generalize the characteristics and needs. You must utilize at least three reliable sources (other than the textbook) and cite your sources in APA format somewhere in the product. 

Steps: 

1.

Watch the videos on finding and citing reliable sources. Then, explore sources for your chosen disability area. 

Finding Reliable Sources 

·

Utilizing the GMU Library 

·
Evidence-based 

·
Effective Search Terms

·
Boolean Searching

·

Citing a Source in APA

2. Complete the Progress Tracking Document and answer each specific question.
You must answer each question somewhere in your product.

3. Create a product. This should be straightforward and clear. Again, imagine you are giving this to a busy person who needs the information quickly.  Examples of products include slide shows, infographics, videos, or something else creative of your choosing. For this assignment, a multi-page academic paper would not constitute an appropriate product. 

4. Turn in your product AND Progress Tracking Document to the blackboard by the date listed in the syllabus.

Progress Tracking Document

You must include the following:

Where is it located? (e.g., pg. number, slide, section, etc.)

Disability Characteristics

· What is its prevalence? Is it a high- or low- incidence disability?

· How is it diagnosed?

· Are physical/medical issues associated with this disability?

· Are there social or behavioral implications associated with this disability?

Learning Needs

· What areas of learning might be impacted by this disability?

· What teaching strategies might benefit learners with this disability?

· What IEP considerations might be needed?

· What accommodations might students with this disability need?

· Where might a student with this disability receive services? (Think LRE.)

· What skills will teachers need to work with students who have this disability?

References

· Three references cited in APA formatting, NOT including the textbook

Resources

Finding Reliable Sources 

·

Utilizing the GMU Library 

·
Evidence-based 

·
Effective Search Terms

·
Boolean Searching

·

Citing a Source in APA

Product Examples 

·

Issue Briefs

·

Infographics

·

Pow Toon 

·

Prezi 

Grading Checklist

Earned Points

Possible Points

Disability Characteristics (Describe & Analyze) Disability characteristics are described. The following topics are addressed: prevalence, diagnosis, physical or medical considerations, and social/behavioral implications are addressed

40

Learning Needs (Analyze & Judge)

Considerations of learning needs are addressed including: areas of learning impacted, beneficial teaching strategies, IEP considerations, service location, and requisite teacher skills

40

Visual Appeal

Product is straightforward, clear, purposefully organized, and visually appealing

10

APA Style

Writing is clear and easy to understand. There are few to no grammar errors/typos. References from three peer-reviewed journal articles are cited using APA formatting. The textbook can also be cited in addition to the three scholarly publications.

10

100