The courses are available on the Kansas Learning Network at the KU Regents Center in Overland Park and at Topeka, Salina, Wichita, Oakley, Greenbush and Sublette. The classes may be taken for one hour of credit on a pass-fail basis or on a noncredit basis. The sessions are intended for parents, students and professionals in regular and special education as well as professionals in social welfare, early childhood education, psychology, counseling, and occupational, recreation and music therapy. Each course has two 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. sessions on Saturdays.
Attendance is required at both sessions.
The courses deal with forming collaborations between families and professionals, creating partnerships between parents and educators, restructuring schools for diversity and democracy, and assessing effective teaching in classrooms that include students with special needs. Sessions will feature short lectures, panel discussions, interviews, videotaped programs, printed articles and other resources. Facilitating Inclusion of Exceptional Children and Youth in Schools and Communities. Aug. 26 and Sept. 9. The course focuses on family collaboration, especially family-centered practices that involve fathers of children and youth with exceptional needs.