1

UNIVERSITY OF BUEA FACULTY OF EDUCATION

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

(SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION)

Course Title: CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Course code: SPE 222

Course status: C (6 credits)

Instructors: Ass. Prof. Shey Patrick, Dr. Melem Linda, Dr. Luma Ruhama

Academic year: 2019 - 2020

Objectives: The course focuses on all categories of special needs with focus on the characteristic, degree of severity
possible causes and more.

Course outcome: The course will enable learners to: Understand and to identify the various categories of
learners with special needs in the classroom the causes and the methods used in managing these children.

WEEKS TOPICS ACTIVITY

L T
Week 1 General Introduction
Definition of special education and exceptionality
Categories of special needs children (hearing impairment and speech defect,
intellectual impairment, visual impairment, physical and health impairment,
emotional and behavioural disorder, learning disabilities, autism, personality
disorder).
Weeks 2 Learning Disabilities
Definition, types, causes
Characteristics, identification, needs, teaching method
Weeks 3 Intellectual disabilities
Definition, classification, characteristics, causes, identification, needs, teaching
method.
Week 4 Hearing impairment
Definition, classification, characteristics, causes, identification, needs, teaching
method
Week 5 Visual impairment
Definition, classification, causes, identification, needs, teaching methods
Week 6 Physical and health impairment
Definition, classification, characteristics causes, identification, needs, teaching
methods.
Week 7 Emotional and behavioural impairment
Definition, classification, characteristic, causes, identification, needs teaching
methods

Weeks 8 Giftedness and Talentedness.

Definition, classification, characteristics causes, identification, needs, teaching
methods.
Week 9 Speech and language disorders
Definition, classification, characteristics causes, identification, needs, teaching
methods.
 2

Weeks 10 Multiple disabilities

Definition, classification, characteristics causes, identification, needs, teaching
methods.
Week 11 Continuous assessment
Week 12 Autism
Definition, classification, characteristics causes, identification, needs, teaching
methods.
Week 13 Revision

TUTORIALS (GROUP WORK)

GROUPS CONTENTS FOR GRROUP PRESENTATIONS ACTIVITY TIME

GROUP I Learning disabilities: Definition, types, causes, Presentation of research paper 4hrs
characteristics and needs as well as teaching methods by group members before the
class. Question and answer
session
GROUP II Intellectual disabilities: Definition, types, causes, Presentation of research paper 4hrs
characteristics and needs as well as teaching methods by group members before the
class. Question and answer
session
GROUP III Emotional and behavioural impairments: Presentation of research paper 4hrs
Definition, types, causes, characteristics and needs as by group members before the
well as teaching methods class. Question and answer
session
GROUP IV Gifted and talented learners: Definition, types, Presentation of research paper 4hrs
causes, characteristics and needs as well as teaching by group members before the
methods class. Question and answer
session
GROUP V Speech and language disorders: Definition, types, Presentation of research paper 4hrs
causes, characteristics and needs as well as teaching by group members before the
methods class. Question and answer
session
Continuous Assessment and evaluation: The final evaluation of students will be based on marks obtained from a
continuous assessment and an end of semester examination. Continuous assessment will carry 30% and will be written
either in class or take home assignment. The end of semester examination will carry 70%.

REQUIRED TEXT: READ TEXT AROUND THIS COURSE

Richard, M., G., and E., C., Bouck (2016) special Education in Contemporary Society sixth edition, Sage Los
Angeles/ London/Delhi

Izuka J., I., Hassana S., D., and Ali T., A., (2008) Classification of special needs teaching strategies and rehabilitation.
African Journal of special education vol 1 no 1

Izuka J., H., and Ikechukwu N., (2008), Teaching and rehabilitation strategies for persons with intellectual, disabilities,
social/emotional difficulties: speech and language disabilities, Gifted and talented children.