Special Education and Nutrition
CQF-L8 | 36 Hours | TTD $2,000 / USD $300 | Virtual
Sep 1 - Sep 23, 2026 | Monday, Tuesday & Thursday | 5pm - 8pm AST
Special Education and Nutrition
CQF-L8 | 36 Hours | TTD $2,000 / USD $300 | Virtual
Sep 1 – Sep 23, 2026 | Monday, Tuesday & Thursday | 5pm – 8pm AST
Course Description
Special Education and Nutrition is an introductory course designed to develop participants’ understanding of the unique nutritional needs of children and adults with special needs, disabilities and neurodivergence. The course combines foundational nutrition principles with practical strategies for meal planning, food safety, weight management and healthy eating across the life course. Participants will explore how conditions such as autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome, as well as disabilities associated with stroke, cancer and other non-communicable diseases, can affect nutritional needs and food choices. The course is suitable for individuals seeking to broaden their knowledge of nutrition and its application to special education and disability support. Participants will develop practical skills in assessing nutritional needs, designing appropriate meal plans and identifying strategies to promote safe, balanced and nutritious eating.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Explain the principles of nutrition and the components of a healthy, balanced diet.
- Analyse factors that influence food choices, nutritional needs and healthy weight management across the life course.
- Design balanced and nutritious meal plans appropriate for children and adults with developmental disorders, disabilities and neurodivergence.
- Apply food safety, meal preparation and nutrition strategies appropriate for persons with special needs.
- Evaluate common nutritional challenges associated with autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other disabilities, and identify appropriate strategies to address them.
Contents
Outline of the course structure:
- Foundations of Nutrition – Basic nutrition principles, macronutrients, healthy diets and factors affecting nutrition.
- Meal Planning, Food Labels & Food Safety – Meal planning, Nutrition Facts Labels, food preparation and HACCP principles.
- Nutrition Across the Life Course – Nutritional needs from pregnancy and infancy through childhood, adulthood and older age.
- Weight Management & Eating Behaviours – Healthy weight management, physical activity, fad diets, eating disorders and food dysphoria.
- Nutrition & Neurodivergence – Nutritional considerations and practical strategies for autism, ADHD and other developmental conditions.
- Nutrition, Disability & Assisted Feeding – Nutritional challenges associated with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, stroke, cancer, visual impairment and other disabilities, including assisted feeding devices.
Why take this course?
- Build practical nutrition knowledge – Develop a strong foundation in healthy eating, meal planning, food safety and nutritional requirements.
- Understand diverse nutritional needs – Explore how disabilities, developmental conditions and neurodivergence can influence nutrition and food choices.
- Apply knowledge in real-world settings – Develop practical meal plans, recipes and food preparation strategies suitable for persons with special needs.
- Support healthier outcomes – Gain strategies for promoting safe, balanced and nutritious eating among children and adults with disabilities.
- Develop practical communication skills – Create educational resources and present nutrition information in accessible and informative ways.
About Instructor
Mrs Shandera Amoy Smith, MSc, BSc, LDN, CCDE, BCDE
Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist / Ministry of Health and Wellness, The Bahamas
Shandera Amoy Smith, is a Senior Dietitian, Licensed Nutritionist, educator, and wellness entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in clinical nutrition, public health, and health promotion. She currently serves with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and lectures at the University of The Bahamas and Southern College. She is the founder of Trinity Wellness Center and is dedicated to advancing community health and nutrition education.
Tel: 1-868-662-2241 , 1-868-612-4872 Ext 1051
WhatsApp: 1-868-662-1197
E-mail: pdi@usc.edu.tt
