This course is designed to help counsellors in training obtain a better understanding of the diversity of all people, through review and research of children/adolescents who face challenges in their lives. Sometimes challenges arise because children’s biology/genetics places them at risk for various disorders or disabilities. At other times, children face experiences that may challenge their adjustment at home, at school or in the society. Consequently, the focus will be on those with various exceptionalities in the classroom, and interactions between exceptional children and youth, and family and community factors. It includes an historical review of human services as well as current legal, medical, psychological, vocational, social, and educational approaches to working with individuals who are exceptional (including the gifted.)
This course is not a methodology course but will provide an overview of the range of exceptional characteristics that exist and the effects of these on learning: physical, mental, emotional, behavioural and social traits of children and adolescents. Other topics will include legal issues, giftedness (identification / classification/ labeling),