Inclusion Institute

Inclusion Institute

Overview

The Inclusion institute is a non-credit professional development activity designed to provide in-service teachers with skills to work effectively with special needs students. As a result of these acquired skills, the teacher will develop a more positive attitude towards inclusion. In the training sessions, educational philosophies and instructional strategies which will assist in the successful practice of inclusion of special needs students into regular classroom will be presented. The specific characteristics of various disability categories will be addressed including: gifted and talented, behaviorally disordered, attention deficit disordered, learning disabled, educable mentally retarded, physically handicapped, hearing impaired, and visually impaired. Information on current legislation, inclusion strategies, current issues, and research in the field will be provided. Sessions will include practical, hands-on instructional strategies for successfully including special needs students in general classroom activities.

Goals

The goals of the Inclusion Institute are:

to affect the teacher's attitudes regarding inclusion
to inform classroom teachers about the laws governing special education
to familiarize teachers with community resources for special needs students
to improve teachers' skills in including special needs students in general education environments
to provide teachers with information on the characteristics of special needs learners to provide positive role models in inclusion strategies
to help teachers develop an understanding of the emotional, physical and educational needs of children with disabilities and their families
to demonstrate effective positive support practices for students who exhibit challenging behaviors, including special needs students
to eliminate teachers' own apprehension regarding special needs students in their classrooms

Format
The Inclusion Institute is available to school districts who wish to contract for professional development training. Commonly, the training sessions are given in five full days. Scheduling is at the discretion of the school district. Training sessions will be offered at a school in the contracting school district. Seton Hill College will negotiate a contracted rate with the school district. At the completion of the course of study teachers will be provided with a formal advanced certificate.

Inclusion Certificate

Today's classrooms are populated with students with a variety of learning styles, gifts/disabilities and socio-cultural backgrounds. Teachers and administrators need new information and strategies to keep pace with the changing population of students and the inclusionary environment. Seton Hill College has designed a sequence of graduate study to assist teachers and administrators in the task of educating these students. This certificate program is designed for professionals committed to educational practice which addresses the needs of all students in the classroom. The course sequence allows for presentation of special education theory, legal issues related to inclusion, attitude and advocacy necessary for success in inclusion, issues of diversity and pedagogical strategies for inclusionary practice.

Course of Study

ED 605 Advanced Education of Exceptional Children
ED 730 Classroom Management and Behavioral Disorders
ED 740 Teaching for Mild/Moderate Disabilities
ED 840 Family and Parent Issues and Conferencing
ED 912 Multicultural Education: Theory and Practice

Format
Teachers may enroll in graduate study on the Seton Hill campus or school districts may request that the Inclusion Certificate be offered at a school in their district for a contracted rate. At the completion of the course of study teachers will be provided with a formal advanced certificate.

For more information or an application, include your program of interest and contact us at gadmit@setonhill.edu
or write to us at:
Office of Graduate Studies
Seton Hill College
Seton Hill Drive
Greensburg, PA 15601-1599
1-800-826-6234