SPC ED 524
Advocacy & Empowerment with Individuals with Intellectual Disability and Severe Disabilities
Fall 2014
Mondays, 4:15 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.
TECH 220
Professor: Susan Copeland, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Course Syllabus
Writing Guidelines and Resources
Purdue Online Writing Lab (great help with academic writing and APA formatting)
Course Description
This purpose of this course is for students to gain a deeper understanding of advocacy and empowerment as these concepts relate to individuals with intellectual and/or severe disabilities. As a part of the course, students will examine a variety of related topics, including a review of the history of the disability rights movement and related legislation, the concepts of supports and interdependence, and the influence culture may have on individuals and families in relation to advocacy and empowerment. Students will explore the construct of self-determination and learn evidence-based strategies that may assist individuals with disabilities, across the lifespan, to acquire skills that foster self-determination. They will also have opportunities to learn skills that improve their own abilities to advocate with and for persons with disabilities. The course will consist of a blend of lecture, discussion, and whole and small group activities, and opportunities to work directly with self-advocates in the community. Classes meet part of the time on the UNM campus and part of the time at the New Mexico Center for Self-Advocacy; all students are responsible for their own transportation to classes both on and off-campus. Guest speakers will provide varied perspectives.
Required Readings
This course will utilize a packet of readings. These are available for purchase at the College of Education Publications and Copy Center located in the far east wing of Travelstead Hall Building #65 which is just east of Zimmerman Library (Main Campus Library) and just north of Masley Art Gallery.
Contact Information: 505-277-7276 Email: coepub@unm.edu
Class Schedule
Week 1- 8/18
Introduction and overview of the course.
Discussion of terms: advocacy, self-advocacy, and empowerment.
Handouts: Introduction
Week 2 -8/25
Overview of history of disability rights movement and related legislation.
Initial conceptualizations of: self-determination and self-advocacy
Supporting self-advocates.
Handout:Self.determination
Week 3 -9/1 Labor Day
Week 4 - 9/8 Meet at Center for Self-Advocacy
Discussion of self-determination continued.
Handout:
View/discuss When Billy Broke His Head (Reflection #1 will focus on this video. See the link below (Reflection #1) for the questions you are to answer and turn in next week.
Assignment: Plagiarism Tutorial Certificate; have Background check on file with the COE
Week 5 - 9/15 NOTE: Class will begin at 4:45 pm for this night only.
Self-Determination across the lifespan
Guest Speaker: Dr. Jami Petner-Arrey
Assignment: Reflection Reflection #1: When Billy Broke His Head
Week 6 - 9/22 Meet at Center for Self-Advocacy
Educators as advocates
Self-determination and younger children
Handouts: 1. Handout from Dr. Petner-Arrey’s Presentation
Week 7 - 9/29 Meet at Center for Self-Advocacy
Self-determination in practice: Student-led IEPs
Handouts:Student Participation in the IEP Process
Week 8 - 10/6
Self-determination in practice: Post-secondary education & Employment
Handouts: Postsecondary Education Opportunities
Handout: Transition to College
Guest Speaker: Joan Green, Director, UNM Accessibility Resource Center
Assignment: Reflection #2 Using Ankey & Hamill, reflect on the factors that facilitate or inhibit self-determination of older adolescents and young adults with severe disabilities.
Week 9 - 10/13
Self-determination: Component skills
Handouts: Self-Determination- Component Skills
Assignment: Reflection #3 For each of the three dimensions described in the Loman et al. Practice Guide, choose 1 evidence-based recommendation and describe how you can/will use it in your classroom or practice setting to promote that dimension or self-determination within your students or clients.
Week 10 - 10/20 Meet at Center for Self-Advocacy
Self-determination: Component skills
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (check out the slide show)
Assignment: Reflection #4 Reflect on the concept of “choice” using Agran et al. and Wiltz.
Week 11 - 10/27 Meet at Center for Self-Advocacy
Self-determination: Component skills
Cultural and family perspectives
Handouts: Culture & Self-Determination
Week 12 - 11/3 Meet at Center for Self-Advocacy
Self-determination: Component skills
Aligning self-determination and curriculum standards
Assignment: Reflection #5 Reflect on/analyze Konrad et al. and Wehmeyer et al.
Week 13 - 11/10
Self-determination: Adult outcomes
Guest Speakers:
Resource: Navigating College Handbook (handbook for students with ASDs; written by others with ASD)
Handouts:
List of Self-Determination Curricula
Example of starting a postsecondary program
Guest Speakers: Tim Harris, Sabrina Torreblanca, and Ryan Rotundo
Week 14 - 11/17 Meet at Center for Self-Advocacy
Self-determination: Older adults
Handouts: Aging & ELJT
Week 15 - 11/24 Meet at Center for Self-Advocacy
Wrap up of course
Assignment: Reflection #6: What elements of self-determination are reflected across Jay Turnbull’s life? What, for you, is the ‘take-home’ message from his story?
Week 16 - 12/1 Meet at Center for Self Advocacy
Poster Presentation Open House
Week 17 NO CLASS. FINAL PAPER due in either Dr. Copeland’s office on MONDAY, DEC. 8, 2014 by 5:00 p.m.
Resources
New Mexico Center for Self-Advocacy The CSA, a part of the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, provides varied opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities to explore their rights and responsibilities as members of society.
Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) -SABE focuses on equality of rights, decisions, choices and responsibilities for persons with disabilities.
Marilyn's Story - Marilyn is a self-advocate in New Mexico. Check out her TV show, Advo-Girl Meets World, on Channel 27.
Beach Center on Disability: Self-Determination
