Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to: • Identify special education as a changing discipline based on philosophies, evidence-based principles and theories, relevant laws and policies, diverse and historical points of view, and human issues that have historically influenced and continue to influence the field of special education and the education and treatment of individuals with exceptional needs both in school and society. • Demonstrate respect for their students first as unique human beings by identifying similarities and differences in human development and the characteristics between and among individuals with and without exceptional learning needs. • Select and compile a repertoire of evidence-based instructional strategies to individualize instruction for individuals with exceptional learning needs to promote positive learning results in general and special curricula and to appropriately modify learning environments for individuals with exceptional learning needs. • Identify and use multiple types of assessment information for a variety of educational decisions: to help identify exceptional learning needs and to develop and implement individualized instructional programs, as well as to adjust instruction in response to ongoing learning progress • Collaborate with families, other educators, related service providers, and personnel from community agencies in culturally responsive ways. • Identify typical and atypical language development and use individualized strategies to enhance language development and teach communication skills to individuals with exceptional needs. Students will identify augmentative, alternative, and assistive technologies to support and enhance communication of individuals with exceptional needs.