SPED 406 - Working with Language Diverse Communities

Course Description

The course is intended for students who will work with families of children with special needs within language diverse communities and may be English language learners.  Candidates will learn about cultural values, including inter- and intra- group differences, health and healing values, attitudes toward individuals with disabilities, child rearing practices through the exploration of underlying concepts such as acculturation and assimilation, intervention strategies/support services, language issues gender identity/expression and sexual orientation.  The course will investigate family support principles as a key strategy in working with language diverse families. The course is designed to facilitate the candidate’s development of critical analytical skills in the evaluation and interpretation of cross-cultural issues in theory and practice. There will be a very strong emphasis on the development of culturally responsive practices as candidates learn to understand family systems and family life stages, transition challenges, the importance of collaborative parent-professional relationships, parent advocacy, and development of cooperative intervention programs.