Educating Students with Severe and Sensory Impairments, Including Deafblindness
A four course, 12-credit program
This program is comprised of four 3-credit courses, which will be offered consecutively throughout the calendar year. The first and last courses are offered at the Low Incidence Institute. Courses Two and Three are delivered online.
This program is appropriate for teachers, administrators, and others who are interested in increasing their proficiency in providing quality educational opportunities for school-age students with severe and sensory impairments, including deafblindness.
Additionally, paraeducators may take these courses along with a partner teacher or related service provider for $75 (without obtaining college credits).
This program is a collaboration between the Pennsylvania State University and the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN).
Course One
Offered at the Low Incidence Conference this summer!
Understanding Deafblindness: Student-Centered Assessment for Severe and Sensory Impairments
In this foundational course, participants will learn about common etiologies of severe and sensory impairments, students’ diverse needs and abilities and the impact these may have on student learning. It is comprised of five sessions, held at the Low Incidence conference.
Course One is comprised of the following required sessions:
Sunday, August 1
6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Overview of Credential for the Education of Students with Severe and Sensory impairment, Including Deafblindness and Course One
In this session the intent and structure of the credential program will be examined and the objectives and activities of Course One will be explored.
Monday, August 2, 2010
8:45 a.m.–4:15 p.m.Presenters: Barbara Miles and Bernadette Van Den Tillaart
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Morning session: 8:45 a.m.–noon
Functional and Educational Implications of Eye Conditions: Ask the Eye Doctor
Presenter: Marla Moon
Afternoon session: 1:00 p.m.–4:15 p.m.
Cochlear Implants in Young Children Who Are Deafblind
Presenter: Kathleen Stremel Thomas
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
8:45 a.m.– 4:15 p.m.
Child-Centered Assessment (closed session, open only to those enrolled in Course One of the certificate)
Assessment is the starting point of a child’s education; it affects educational decisions and is used to evaluate student progress toward academic goals and the effectiveness of the educational program. It is a process of gathering information about a child’s skills and needs from many sources and across many contexts and provides a means to answer questions about the child’s abilities in order to make decisions on how to address his educational needs. In this session participants will discover how to observe and identify the skills of the student with severe and sensory impairments, including deafblindness; how to elicit relevant information from those on the IEP team, including the family members; and how this assessment information is used in the development of the IEP for the student.
Presenters: Terry Rafalowski-Welch and Juli Baumgarner
Future Offerings
Course One: Offered at the Low Incidence Institute, August 2011
Course Two: Interacting with Students who have Severe and Sensory Impairments, including Deafblindness: Social, Communicative, and Behavioral Strategies (online in spring 2011 and fall 2011)
In this online course participants will examine strategies that facilitate communication and social development. Tactile learning strategies and the use of appropriate technology will be discussed. Behavioral issues will be addressed through effective intervention and instruction. An assessment framework will be used to design appropriate interventions to enhance the student’s learning experiences.
Course Three: Engaging Students who have Severe and Sensory Impairments, including Deafblindness: Building a Shared Foundation of Meaning (spring 2012)
In this course, participants will apply learning theory to cognitive skills and concept development of students with severe and sensory impairments, including deafblindness. Participants will examine the development of problem solving skills in the general education setting and the cultural issues associated with deafblindness. An assessment framework will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the educational program in facilitating student progress.
Course Four: Current Issues in the Education of Students with Severe and Sensory Impairments, including Deafblindness (offered at the Low Incidence conference, August 2012)
In this week-long course, offered each August at the Low Incidence Conference, participants will explore current issues and practical applications in the education of students with severe and sensory impairments including those pertaining to health, transitions throughout the educational process, resources to meet family and professional needs, and collaboration with appropriate agencies.
If you have any questions about this certificate, please contact:
Erin Garthe
eringarthe@psu.edu
