This course is important for students going into elementary and special education:
SPED 117: The Culture of Disabilities 3 hours
This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for a UIUC: Hist&Philosoph Perspect course
CRN 31389
Offered Summer 2012 in an Online Format, June 11 - July 30
Synchronous Online Sessions will occur each Monday, 6-8 pm
Johnell Bentz, Instructor jbentz aaat-- illinois.edu
While disability knows no boundaries, cultures vary in the opportunities they provide for all persons and the status of disability rights. In this course, students are introduced to the culture of disability and real issues related to the inclusion of persons with disabilities across the lifespan in any aspect of society (e.g., social, political, educational, recreational, health, employment). Students learn about the experiences and challenges of persons with special needs (ages infants through adults) often from the individuals themselves, family members, or professionals in the field. Students are challenged to expand their conceptualization of diversity and increase their awareness of attitudes, actions, and environments that include and exclude persons with different cognitive, physical, and mental abilities and disabilities.