Sacramento State to train teachers to work with disabled aged birth-K; "rise in autism"

Aug 29, 2018, Sacramento State News: Early childhood special education credential returns https://www.csus.edu/news/articles/2018/8/29/Early-childhood-special-education-credential-returns.shtml Sacramento State has relaunched its Early Childhood Special Education credential program, aiming to fill a critical statewide need for teachers trained to work specifically with children with disabilities from birth through kindergarten. The two-year program, which will start this fall with a cohort of about 20 students, will be offered fully online, making it the only distance-learning program for early childhood special education in the state. … Improving services to young children and students with disabilities by stressing inclusivity supports the desire to help their students "grow up to be adults who are more included in society, and that starts with our schools.”… There has been an increase locally in the number of preschool programs, and a nationwide rise in autism and other communication delays in children, Collado said, highlighting the need for teachers and other educators trained to work with young populations. “The Sacramento area especially was lacking in a strong credential program for early childhood special education,” Collado said. “There is also a huge push nationally for an increased focus on intervening early.”…