Undergraduate Course Offerings
EDPS 459 Technological Applications in Special Education.
This course is intended to develop the student's knowledge
of the legislative mandates for, as well as the impact of, the use of
assistive technology, including adapted computers and other adaptive
and learning technologies with individuals having a range of disabilities,
intellectual impairments, and sensory and physical impairments. This
course is intended to provide a foundation for the student in the application
of those technology tools available to assist with instruction or personal
independence. These tools include educational software; adaptive software
and devices for visual, hearing, motor, communication, or intellectual
disabilities; assisted writing applications; adaptive access to the
microcomputer and other learning technologies such as interactive CD-ROM,
multimedia, etc. Students will develop knowledge and skill related to
the selection of assistive technologies, their application in educational
and life skills domains, and their integration into individualized educational
programs. As a component of the course, students will develop applications
using computer-based assistive technologies based upon case examples.
Graduate Course Offerings
SLHS 514I/EDPS 664I Advanced AAC Seminar - Preschool / Elementary.*
This course is intended to provide special educators, speech-language
pathologists, and related professionals (e.g., occupational therapists,
physical therapists, psychologists) with an understanding of assessment
and intervention methods used to improve the communication skills of
preschool-aged individuals with little or no functional speech. Participants
will gain knowledge and develop skills for providing augmentative and
alternative communication (AAC) assessment and intervention. AAC is
generally viewed from a lifespan perspective. The Advanced AAC Seminar
is part of a personnel preparation program which prepares professionals
to be intellectual leaders and service providers in a global community.
Participants will have the opportunity to acquire advanced knowledge
and skills in AAC assessment and intervention, gain experience in being
producers and disseminators of knowledge, and promote growth in the
field of AAC.
SLHS 519A/EDPS 664G Advanced AAC Seminar - Secondary.*
This course is intended to provide special educators and speech-language
pathologists with an overall understanding of some of the issues involved
in assessing and providing intervention to secondary-aged individuals
with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) needs. The course
addresses AAC assessment with individuals functioning at various levels,
from those who communicate nonsymbolically to those who are academically
and vocationally competitive. The collaborative transdisciplinary approach
serves as a framework for this course. Participants will gain knowledge
and skills in assessment, intervention and decision making. The Advanced
AAC Seminar is part of a personnel preparation program which seeks to
prepare professionals as intellectual leaders in a global community.
Participants will acquire advanced knowledge and skills in this content
area, but will also gain awareness of and experience in the scientist-practitioner
model, being producers and disseminators of knowledge, functioning as
change agents, and facilitating growth in the AAC field.
SLHS 514I/EDPS 664I Advanced AAC Seminar - Adults.*
This course addresses AAC assessment and intervention topics for adults
with little or no functional speech. Topics include: AAC issues surrounding
sexuality; transitions to independent living and vocational settings;
AAC in medical settings; assessment strategies (e.g., comprehensibility
assessment); intervention strategies (e.g., development and use of remnant
books); and the feature match. Although this course is part of a personnel
preparation program, it is open to preacticing special educators, speech-language
pathologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and others
interested in AAC. Participants will acquire advanced knowledge and
skills in this content area and will also gain awareness of an experience
in the scientist-practitioner model, being producers and disseminators
of knowledge, functioning as change agents, and facilitating growth
in the AAC field.
SLHS 540/EDPS 562 Augmentative and Alternative Communication.*
This course addresses the broad range of AAC including (l) unaided
approaches including manual systems and symbols such as American Sign
Language (ASL), the various pedagogical sign systems, Amer-Ind, and
other gesture systems; and (2) aided approaches using communication
boards or other mechanical or electronic devices (including microcomputers)
with symbol sets and systems such as pictures, Sigsymbols, Blissymbols,
and traditional orthography. This includes the critical analysis of
both aided and unaided symbol sets and systems. Hands-on experience
with assistive communication devices is also included. Cognitive, educational,
physical, psychosocial, linguistic aspects, symbol characteristics,
teaching strategies, efficacy of the various approaches, funding, and
research issues and needs will be addressed. This course is designed
to provide a general introduction and overview of AAC. As an introduction,
it is expected that students will gain the knowledge for further coursework
and practicum experience to enable them to provide AAC direct service
and consultation to meet the needs of individuals with severe communication
disabilities. For those who will not have additional study in AAC, the
course should provide the basic knowledge for appropriate referral and
collaboration.
SLHS/EDPS 590 Directed Study of Special Problems/Individual Research
Problems (in AAC).
SLHS/EDPS 590T AAC Special Topics.*
Each summer this course focuses on a critical area of AAC. It is broadcast
via IHETS(Indiana Higher Education Telecommunication Systems) to sites
around Indiana. Previous topics have included:
- Development of Literacy Skills by Individuals with AAC Needs: This
telecourse covered issues related to the acquisition of reading and
writing skills by individuals with little or no functional speech.
In addition to presenting some of the theoretical foundations for
literacy development, it addressed assessment and intervention in
the preschool, school-aged, and adult populations.
- Seating, Positioning, & Motor Control for Students Using AAC:
This telecourse addressed the seating, positioning, and motor control
needs of students using augmentative and alternative communication
(AAC). It was intended to acquaint practitioners with the major issues,
methods, and strategies concerning the appropriate positioning and
handling of students with physical disabilities. Special emphasis
was given to integrating their AAC systems with the seating and positioning
systems.
- Hearing and Vision Considerations for Meeting the Needs of Individuals
with Severe Disabilities: This telecourse addressed the hearing and
vision needs of individuals with severe disabilities as they relate
to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Course content
included information on basic anatomy and pathologies, functional
assessment, implications for adaptations of AAC displays and devices,
and other practical applications for assessment and intervention for
individuals with hearing and vision impairments.
- Literacy and Inclusion: This telecourse provided a synthesis of
literary research as it relates to students with multiple disabilities
and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) needs. Course
content included information on assessment and intervention strategies
in reading, spelling, and writing, the emergent literary continuum,
and curriculum integration strategies.
- Special Topics in AAC and AT: This telecourse addressed the basic
context, structure, and practical applications for the implementation
of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and assistive
technology (AT). Course content included aided and unaided communication
processes; technological approaches for mobility, computer access,
environmental control; principles of AAC assessment and intervention;
and feature matching.
EDPS 571 Advanced Technological Applications in Special Education.
This course is intended to develop the student's knowledge of the most
recent advances in technology development and of research on the effective
application of assistive technology to individuals with a range of disabilities
having a variety of educational, vocational, and independent living
needs. As a component of the course, students will develop applications
using assistive technologies based upon case examples. In addition to
models for selection, implementation, and evaluation of assistive technology
including microcomputers, adaptive devices and software, and interactive
learning technology for use with these populations, it is intended that
the course examine fiscal, administrative, and social issues related
to acquisition, integration and funding of technology at the personal
and societal or institutional level. Finally, the course is intended
to introduce the advanced student to the potential for application of
personal productivity tools, e.g., word processors, spreadsheets, databases,
communication tools, etc., to the solution of learning, instructional,
or administrative problems encountered in classrooms or by agencies
serving individuals with disabilities.
EDPS 660A AAC Practicum.*
This course provides students with AAC practicum experience observing
and working with individuals who have little or no functional speech.
Students work with individuals who have AAC needs in a variety of field
settings under the supervision of agency professionals. Weekly group
practicum meetings with university supervisors provide general and specific
information related to the provision of AAC services and provide opportunities
for students to share information about their clients, discuss intervention
strategies, and obtain feedback. Videotaped presentations which encourage
collaboration and problem-solving are an integral part of the weekly
meetings.
EDPS 664B AAC Research Seminar.*
This course addresses the analysis of ongoing AAC research and of current
and emerging issues and trends in AAC via student presentations, critical
analysis of presentations and written material. Recent research issues
have included: teaching methods, intelligibility of VOCAs under different
S/Ns by communication partners and/or individuals with various impairments/disabilities;
translucency as a factor in learning symbols; computer assisted instruction;
vocabulary; and literacy.
EDPS 695 Internship in Education (with AAC Emphasis).
A special course in selected areas of education, designed to provide
practical field experience under professional supervision in selected
situations related to the candidate's area of specialization.
* These are the required courses for the AAC program.
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