I. Course Title: Language Development and Communication Strategies for Students with
Complex Disabilities
II. Course Number: EDSP 667
III. Credit Hours: 3 credits
IV. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.
V. Course Description: This course examines augmentative and alternative communication
(AAC) for students with complex language and learning needs. It addresses the knowledge
and skills needed to assess the potential AAC user, make team decisions, develop and
implement communication instruction, and evaluate the effects of instruction with
focus on motivating, building and expanding communication, choice-making and social
interaction.
VI. Detailed Description of Content of the Course:
This course examines augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for students
with complex language and learning needs. This course will provide a basic framework
and understanding of the fundamentals, devices, techniques, and strategies used in
AAC, including low and high technology assistive tools. Students will gain knowledge
and skills needed to a assess the potential AAC user, make team decisions, develop
and implement instruction, and evaluate the effects of instruction with focus on motivating,
building, and expanding communication, choice-making, and social interaction. Students
will be given opportunities to utilize actual AAC devices and/or emulation software
and participate in lectures with various professionals workin gin the field of Augmentative
Communication. The following areas will be addressed:
- Typical and atypical language development
- Characteristics of non-symbolic and symbolic communication
- Methods of cognitive, behavioral, physical and language assessment related to the
process of Feature Analysis
- Methods for symbol and message selection
- Methods of alternate access available to persons with severe physical impairments
- The process for assessing and procuring an AAC device or services
VI. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course:
Learning activities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Learning module lectures, discussion, activities, and participation
- Software and hardware demonstrations
- Video and other media supports
- Group and independent laboratory exploration activities
- Class presentations
VII. Goals and Objectives of the Course:
Goals, objectives, and assignments in this class address the Virginia Department of
Education regulations for preparing educators and the Council for Exceptional Children
(CEC) Initial Preparation Standards and Specialty Set Knowledge and Skills Items.
Specialty sets included in this course cover competencies for the Individualized Independence
Curriculum.
Upon successful completion of this course, participant will be able to:
- Identify characteristics of non-symbolic and symbolic communication.
- Understand the typical development of linguistic competence and the complex nature
of language acquisition as a precursor to literacy.
- Describe language development and emergent literacy skills for students who use augmentative
and alternative communication devices and system/assistive technology.
- Describe and discuss methods for assessment, identification of priorities, and monitoring
progress of individuals with communication impairments.
- Discuss and evaluate the range of augmentative and alternative communication devices
and systems/assistive technology available for individuals with complex language and
learning needs.
- Implement assessment strategies to improve students' social interaction with peers
and others.
- Implement communication/AAC/AT assessment strategies to develop and implement individual
educational planning and group instruction with students with disabilities in an adapted
curriculum across the K-12 grade levels.
- Understand and identify the communicative intent of behavio
- Demonstrate knowledge of best practices and strategies in reading and writing instruction
for students who use augmentative and alternative communication devices and systems/assistive
technology.
VIII. Assessment Measures:
Assessment measures may include, but are not limited to:
- Develop, use and reflect on low-tech topic boards for communication and social interaction.
- Develop a communication system combining low and high tech to address the communication
needs of a student across environments and across the day.
- Application activities integrating communication systems and instruction.
- Annotated research reviews of evidence-based strategies for incorporating communication
instruction in academic instruction and within transitions.
- Other applied assignments
Other Course Information: None
Review and Approval
1/31/04 New course Proposal Altieri
2/2020 Course Revisions Altieri