Worldwide millions of children are not able to fully participate in schooling, and this is especially a problem for children with disabilities. In this course, we explore the support that teachers need in order to meet the needs of children with severe to profound hearing, visual and intellectual disabilities. We consider how this can be done by talking with a range of experts - from teachers to activists - about inclusive education as well as sharing experiences of education.
Inclusive education is only possible if teachers are supported and empowered to make the curriculum accessible to all learners. The topics in this course cover developing disability confidence and what exactly children with specific impairments need to be able to learn. This includes sharing specific classroom strategies and teaching activities for learners who are D/deaf or hard of hearing, blind or have low vision or have a severe to profound intellectual disability. By the end of the course, you will be familiar with the impairment specific needs of learners with disabilities, and how to build systems of support for inclusive education.
You will be able to purchase a Verified Certificate if you wish to show evidence of your achievements, but this is optional, and you may apply for Financial Aid if you are unable to pay the certificate fee.
This course was developed as part of the project ´Strengthening teaching for Children with profound Hearing, Visual and Intellectual Disabilities in South Africa` co-funded by Christoffel-Blinden Mission (CBM) and the European Union.
Overview
Syllabus
- Inclusive education and special education: Equality and equity
- This week, we consider what disability inclusion means by exploring different models of disability as well as disability rights and policies. Drawing from the history of special and inclusive education we look at how mainstream schools can move towards becoming inclusive schools and how special education can fit into an inclusive education framework. At the end of this week, there is a graded quiz, where you can check your understanding of the key concepts. Every week, you are invited to reflect on the topics in the discussions where you can talk with others about what this means for your practice as an educator.
- Supporting disability inclusion
- This week focuses on teacher empowerment and what teachers need to know to better support learners with disabilities. We begin by sharing with you what the Teacher Empowerment for Disability Inclusion (TEDI) project's research findings revealed about teachers’ educational needs. This week we hear powerful personal testimonies of individuals living with disabilities about their schooling which highlights the importance of the empowered teacher in their lives when they were learners. At the end of this week, there is a graded peer review and opportunity for reflection through discussion.
- Systemic support for educators
- This week focuses on the systemic support structures that are available to teachers and educators in order to support learners with impairments. A former teacher and two district officers share their experiences of support structures and the roles they had to shape and implement policies within the spaces they found themselves in. We will also explore some insights from the TEDI research project on how teachers feel they are supported. At the end of the week, there is a graded quiz and optional Honours Peer Review assignment where you can explore these topics further.
- Principles and approaches for disability inclusion
- This week discusses how to make the curriculum accessible for all - particularly focusing on those with severe to profound disabilities. This includes understanding some of the causes of specific impairments (hearing, visual and intellectual) and their impacts on learning. We also have the pleasure of learning from experts who outline which principles and approaches can be adopted to best support learners with these specific impairments. At the end of the week, there is a graded quiz where you can test your knowledge of what you have learnt, and through a discussion reflect on your own teaching practices.
- Inclusive teaching
- In this week, the concept of universal design for learning is introduced as a way of approaching teaching and learning to tackle any problems of exclusion from education. Building on the lectures from last week, this week, experienced teachers describe in some detail what teaching strategies they use in their classrooms to include and support learners with specific impairments. Finally, in the peer review assignment you will be given the chance to create your own plan to support a learner, using the universal design principles.
Taught by
Judith McKenzie
Tags
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Reviews
5.0 rating, based on 13 Class Central reviews
4.9 rating at Coursera based on 653 ratings
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This course is going to help me to deal with children who are disabilities in my classroom.and i really enjoying this course is helpful.
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The class was very interesting and fruitful. It helped me in learning many things in disability studies. Strategies to work with the students with disability. I learn how to support them and to provide them with accommodation for learning yo take pl…
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The class was very interesting and fruitful. It helped me in learning many things in disability studies. Strategies to work with the students with disability. I learn how to support them and to provide them with accommodation for learning yo take pl…
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I found this course very informative . I engaged with facilitators of various and appropriate expertise. I thoroughly enjoyed the quizes and assignments which provoked critical thinking and were also practical in nature
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This course is very informative with relevant and recent resources. The videos are easy to understand and the assignments put knowledge to practice
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Loice NyenyewaHello. This course has been an eye-opener to me. I qualified as a teacher but was lacking this part of training. I wish all teachers will do these short courses so that they may be able to help students with disabilities. Now we are working with these students with disabilities in the mainstream, I feel that there is a big gap in knowledge. Universities should do something about courses like this.
My class will never be the same from now. I really have learnt a lot and it has changed my teaching and attitude towards students with disabilities. -
Educating and providing support for a child with disabilities seem like a big task that is impossible but this course changed my perspective. I have seen my need to take responsibility and make use of the resources around me to provide support for the learner. This course is educating enough to equip anyone that would love to ensure all children are educated irrespective of their disabilities.
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Worldwide millions of children are not able to fully participate in schooling, and this is especially a problem for children with disabilities. In this course, we explore the support that teachers need in order to meet the needs of children with sev…
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This course should be made compulsory for every educatonal course in every university.The teachers are engaging,the assignments are insightful,the knowledge is incredible and do you know what is great about it?The fact that you have flexible hours and substantial amount of time for deadlines.There are personal stories and methods that have worked that help you know that it is practical.If you know any teacher please refer them to this course and I promise you that it will be the best thing that you would have done
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The course presented was really useful and valuable for me. I've got so much information that will help me in my research. I'm very glad I've found this course accidentally. The educators have become like family members during this course. I'd definitely recommend it to my colleagues. Various materials, slide presentations, videos, resources, as well as educators' speech are really available and priceless . Thanks a lot for your work)))
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The course was a very clear and engaging introduction to inclusion in education. The videos were on-point and relevant. The learning activities, especially the peer-review assignments, were immersive and effective in highlighting certain points. It was both effective both in terms of changing my current beliefs about education and enhancing skills in my current practice as special needs educator.
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This course is an amazing opportunity for educators, social workers,health workers to undertake so that their capacities are strengthened. I feel empowered to cause change for inclusion because of this course
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I HAVE LEARNT A LOT FROM THIS COURSE - DISABILITY INCLUSION, DISABILITY CONFIDENCE, THE SUPPORT, THE TYPE OF DISABILITIES AND CURRICULUM ADAPTATION. I LIKED THE PEER REVIEW - I WAITED PATIENTLY TO READ MY PEERS WORK SO I CAN SEE IF I WAS ON THE RIGHT TRACK. I'M HAPPY MY PROFESSOR ACTUALLY INTRODUCED US TO THIS PLATFORM.
