This course examines the legal and ethical issues embedded in the provision of special education services to individuals with disabilities and their families. The course addresses the historical treatment of people with disabilities from a service delivery model perspective. Significant legislation and court decisions will be addressed along with current special education legal requirements. Specific attention will be given to ways in which disability may be viewed as a form of diversity. Additionally, important frameworks and concepts including social construction of disability, self-determination, inclusion, collaboration with diverse families and person-centered planning will be explored. The course will also embed understanding of these concepts within the framework of Vermont’s Educational Support System model, Multi-tiered Systems of support and Universal Design as a way to examine the ways in which all students can have their learning needs met in general education settings.

The course will be delivered in an online format and utilize technology such as screencast-o-matic and flipgrid. Active engagement and participation regardless of learning platform is expected.

Various assignments on special education regulations and services are assessed through short-answer format assignments, but there are no quizzes or tests.