Severe to Profound Intellectual Disability: Circles of Care and Education

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/intellectual-disability-care-education

Introduction

### Course Review: Severe to Profound Intellectual Disability: Circles of Care and Education **Overview** In today's world, creating inclusive educational and care environments for children and youth with severe to profound intellectual disabilities is more important than ever. Coursera’s course, *Severe to Profound Intellectual Disability: Circles of Care and Education*, offers a comprehensive program aimed at equipping learners with the foundational knowledge and practical tools necessary to effectively care for and educate this special demographic. This course emphasizes a ‘circles’ model, positioning the child at the center of their unique support network, which includes family, friends, educators, and community members. **Course Structure and Content** The curriculum is structured into four key weeks, each tackling critical themes that build upon each other: 1. **Understanding the Child**: This introductory week dives deep into the definitions and historical contexts of intellectual disabilities. Participants examine the rights of children with severe to profound intellectual disabilities, particularly their right to education. Engaging discussions and practice quizzes help reinforce learning. 2. **Lifelong Learning**: Week two highlights the concept of lifelong learning as a fundamental aspect of supporting children with intellectual disabilities. The content explores facilitators of learning, such as positive attitudes and effective communication. With insights from local research, particularly from South Africa, the course examines how everyday environments can serve as learning opportunities. 3. **Facilitating Learning**: This week focuses on practical strategies for facilitating learning among children with diverse needs. Learners are encouraged to think critically about how to design and adapt educational programs, emphasizing structure and routine. The peer review component allows participants to evaluate learning programs, further solidifying their understanding and fostering collaboration. 4. **Rights, Advocacy, and Relationships of Care**: The final week revolves around advocacy and care relationships. It offers insights into empowering both children and caregivers, emphasizing the importance of caregiver well-being. The course encourages participants to reflect on their roles as advocates for inclusivity and agency in the lives of those with intellectual disabilities. **Learning Methods and Engagement** Throughout the course, learners engage through a blend of video lectures, readings, discussions, and quizzes, which cater to various learning styles. The interactive elements, particularly the forums and peer reviews, foster a sense of community among participants, encouraging them to share personal insights and experiences. **Who is This Course For?** This course is ideal for educators, caregivers, health care workers, and anyone interested in the rights and care of individuals with intellectual disabilities. It is also beneficial for parents and family members who seek to better understand how to support their loved ones effectively. Regardless of your background, the course presents valuable knowledge applicable to any context involving degrees of intellectual disability. **Final Recommendation** *Severe to Profound Intellectual Disability: Circles of Care and Education* is an invaluable resource for anyone committed to fostering inclusive educational and social environments. The course’s comprehensive approach, expert contributions, and community engagement create a rich learning experience. By the end, participants will be well-equipped not only with theoretical knowledge but with practical skills to advocate for and support children with severe to profound intellectual disabilities. Embracing the philosophy of ‘circles’ underscores the interconnectedness of caregivers, educators, and the community in fostering an environment of acceptance and understanding — a fundamental lesson that resonates beyond the course itself. I highly recommend this course to anyone eager to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those with intellectual disabilities. Whether you’re looking to expand your expertise or simply want to learn more about this crucial topic, enroll today and become part of a community dedicated to positive change.

Syllabus

Who is the child with severe to profound intellectual disability?

This week focuses on understanding the child (or person) with severe to profound intellectual disability. We will look at the definitions and terms related to intellectual disability and provide an overview of the history of intellectual disability. We will also explore how the needs and rights of children with severe to profound intellectual disability can be supported, with a particular emphasis on their right to education. We invite you to comment in the discussion forum, check your knowledge in the practice quizzes and take the graded quiz at the end of the week.

Lifelong learning is an approach that views everyday living as providing children with severe to profound intellectual disability opportunities to learn. With input from several experts, we'll explore how children with severe to profound intellectual disability can learn with appropriate support, what can be done to best facilitate the learning process and the importance of the learning environment. Attitudes and communication are highlighted as being central to creating effective environments for learning. Researchers also report on their findings from a local study on intellectual disability and life long learning in South Africa. At the end of this week, there are additional readings, a forum for discussion and a graded quiz.

This week we look at the learning support needs of children with severe to profound intellectual disability. We consider how to set up learning programmes and integrate different skills and activities. We look at how to change or adapt these programmes to meet the specific needs of mixed groups of children and those in different stages of learning. We also explore the role of structure and routine in creating effective learning environments. Lastly, we look at empowering the caring team, to support the development of children with severe to profound intellectual disability. At the end of this week, you will be asked to critically evaluate a learning programme and review the assignment of peers.

This final week focuses on the relationships of care. We explore ways of giving agency to children with severe to profound intellectual disability who have been central to advocacy campaigns for their full inclusion in society. We also hear from caregivers who are, in many cases the key advocates for persons with intellectual disability. The circle of care for the caregiver is discussed, highlighting how they too need to be cared for and empowered. At the end of this week, there is a graded quiz. You may also choose to do the optional Honors Peer Review assignment.