Intended as a text for undergraduate and postgraduate courses (B.Ed./M.Ed.; B.A./M.A. Education) and diploma level courses in Education as well as for courses in Special Education, this compre-hensive and accessible book provides a sound base for understanding Special Children through an insightful and incisive discussion on Special Education. The text dwells on exceptional children, or children with special needs, who either suffer from various deficits or disabilities, or are gifted. Such children include the mentally retarded, the visually and hearing impaired, the emotionally disturbed, those with autism, cerebral palsy, and the deprived, as well as the gifted and the creative. This well-organized and pedagogically rich text should be extremely useful to students as well as professionals—special education teachers, those engaged in guidance and counselling, educational policy makers, and field workers, who have an abiding interest in the education of exceptional children and in special education. KEY FEATURES  Includes student-friendly features like illustrations, examples, tables, and research-based experimental findings.  Provides a complete picture of exceptionality, from the early years of human history to the present day.  Gives case histories to practically illustrate the subject.

This volume guides readers toward understanding and meeting the needs of students with exceptionalities. This book maintains the critical information of the traditional introductory text: the history of special education, state and federal legislation, and the role of the courts. It elaborates the steps in the identification and assessment process as well as the development of an individualized educational program (IEP). It describes critical directions in special education, such as the least restrictive environment and the continuum of services. Through discussing movements such as the Regular Education Initiative, it traces how we arrived at the controversial sentiments of today. This text provides an objective overview of responses of experts who feel positively or negatively about directions toward inclusion.

Part 1: FOUNDATIONS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION. 1. Special Education in Context: People, Concepts, and Perspectives. 2. Policies, Practices, and Programs. 3. Cultural and Linguistic Diversity and Exceptionality. 4. Parents, Families, and Exceptionality. Part 2: A STUDY OF PERSONS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. 5. Persons with Mental Retardation. 6. Persons with Learning Disabilities. 7. Persons with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. 8. Persons with Emotional or Behavioral Disorders. 9. Persons Who Are Gifted and Talented. 10. Persons with Speech and Language Disorders. 11. Persons with Hearing Impairments. 12. Persons with Visual Impairments. 13. Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder. 14. Persons with Physical Disabilities, Health Disabilities, and Traumatic Brain Injury. Appendix A: Federal Definitions of Disabilities. Appendix B: Sample Individualized Education Program. Appendix C: Sample Individualized Family Services Plan. Glossary. Name Index. Subject Index.

There are good reasons why Exceptional Learners has been the introductory text trusted to prepare hundreds of thousands of special education and general education teachers. Its depth, lucidity, clarity, and coherence combine to make a text appropriate for students at all levels: graduate and undergraduate, from introductory to advanced. Continuing its reputation as the standard bearer in the field for accuracy, currency, and reliability, the tenth edition increases its coverage of Autism Spectrum Disorders, collaboration and co-teaching, research-proven classroom applications, and references to professional standards (CEC and INTASC), and includes information on the 2004 IDEA reauthorization and its implications.

"The challenges we face today in special education require highly-qualified, reflective practitioners who use research-based strategies in the classroom and who are excited about the success and future of our children. If you are interested in the profession of teaching, whether in the general or special education classroom, then this is the book for you. Engaging and insightful, Special Education for Today's Teachers: An Introduction not only provides a solid foundation for being a teacher in today's diverse classroom, but helps you to truthfully answer the question, "Are you prepared to serve and teach all students?" Features include: A strong focus on professionalism, instructional application, and reflection throughout the text and on the DVD-ROM that accompanies the text. Access to Merrill's Teacher Preparation Website (www.prenhal.com/teacherprep) included inside every new copy of the text. Connections are made throughout the text to this website. A FOCUS ON PROFESSIONALISM My Profession, My Story vignettes highlight teachers, their life experiences, dispositions, and attitudes, and how all of these factors relate to daily teaching practice and the profession. Site Visit: Effective Practices in Action features highlight programs in which educators are engaging in effective research-based practices for the classroom. Chapter 16: Continuing a Special Education Career: Collaboration, Professionalism,and Professional Development. Addresses the CEC Knowledge and Skill Standards, CEC Code of Ethics, and PRAXIS Standards. A FOCUS ON INSTRUCTIONAL APPLICATION Highly Effective Instructional Strategies features help readers to understand the steps necessary to incorporate effective strategies into their teaching. Can You Help Me With This Student? features present a scenario or case study where a teacher is facing a difficult or challenging situation and show how this challenge could be resolved. Technology for Access features are integrated throughout the text. Chapter 5: Teaching, Learning, and Behavior Management. A FOCUS ON REFLECTION Chapter 1: Teaching Students with Special Educational Needs: Finding Your Role Reflective Exercises margin notes engage readers through thought-provoking questions that extend the content of the narrative. Reflect Upon focus questions are found at the beginning of each chapter." -- Publisher.