Exceptional Education and Language Disorders

Abstract

With 71% of students with disabilities (SWD) eligible for speech/language services and dismal outcomes in reading for SWD, the exceptional student education program at a large Florida university created a partnership with the speech/language program to educate new practitioners who are well prepared to support SWD's language and literacy needs. This chapter describes the creation of a partnership undergraduate program at a large Florida university that prepares students for special education and language disorders. The non-certification track in the Exceptional Education Program features coursework in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, which is not typically available to education majors. Students graduate with an undergraduate degree in exceptional student education and a certificate in language development and disorders after the program. The authors present specific course and program components and the theoretical framework anchoring the partnership.