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Program Components
The program consists of four courses which span the length of the school year. Each course contains weekly readings and activities, on-line discussions and fieldwork.
The ECSEAA program includes 68 hours of classroom contact (via on-line discussions and assignments) and 60 hours of fieldwork.- Courses One and Two each require 15 hours of fieldwork and 32 hours of classroom contact.
- Course Three is concurrent with Course Four requiring 30 hours of fieldwork and 36 hours of classroom contact.
Program Content
Course One – Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers with Special Needs
- Offers a broad overview of typical and atypical development of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
- The role of the family and the implementation of interventions in natural environments are a focus to develop skills required to provide services to infants and toddlers.
- Students will be exposed to interventions that are appropriate to a child’s chronological age, developmental differences, and disability-specific needs.
- Students develop knowledge of evidence-based practices associated with young children birth to pre K.
Course Two – Working with Families in Early Childhood Special Education
- Provide students with skills to effectively interact with families with young children with special needs.
- Students explore family systems within the context of ethnicity, culture, life experiences, and language diversity.
- Students develop skills in supporting families through the IFSP/IEP process.
- The course covers strategies to assist families to access desired services, programs, and activities in their school and community.
Course Three – Assessment and Instruction for Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers
- Offers an in depth review of the required knowledge and skills needed in order for students to determine, develop and implement appropriate assessment and instructional interventions.
- Students will be exposed to the impact of cultural and linguistic differences and family concerns and priorities affecting choices in assessment and instructional planning.
- The course reviews the IDEA requirements for assessment and evaluation as required by IDEA Part B and C.
Course Four – Supervised Field Experience – Project in Early Childhood Special Education
- Offered concurrently with Course Three – Assessment and Instruction for Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers, and covers assessment and Instruction for Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers with IFSPs and IEPs.
- The course offers students supervised field experience in order to complete 2 full case studies.
- One case study will be focused on infants/toddlers and the other case study will be focused on preschoolers.
- Students participate as part of a multidisciplinary team to assess and develop an appropriate IFSP or IEP.
- Students are required to develop and implement strategies to meet IFSP or IEP goals and objectives using individual and group interventions.
- Students develop skills in working with paraprofessionals to implement a student’s educational program.
- Students implement strategies to monitor student progress based on the student’s IFSP or IEP goals.
