• Semester 1 (External)

Synopsis

Recent  social, judicial and legislative changes concerned  with  the
treatment  and  care of the handicapped have strongly  supported  the
principles  underpinning  normalisation, main  streaming  access  and
equity, social justice and the inclusive curriculum. As a result, the
regular teacher is called upon to accept direct responsibility for an
increasing number of exceptional children and hence needs to  acquire
additional  knowledge  and skills in order to manage  these  children
effectively in the classroom.

This unit briefly outlines the historical events which have shaped our
present  perceptions  of Special Education,  and  it  focuses  on  the
characteristics  and  problems of exceptional children.   It  includes
definitions,   classification  and  an   outline   of   the   medical,
psychological and educational characteristics of children who  require
special  provision in education.  The categories of  children  studied
will cover the full range of exceptionality.

In addition it examines the developmental view of deviant behaviour in
each  area  of  exceptionality  and provides  for  an  exploration  of
"normal"   developmental  patterns  as  a   basis   for   the   better
understanding  of  developmental delays  and  disorders.   Methods  of
classroom intervention will also be reviewed.