Collaborative approaches to special education that seek to provide innovative, creative, and novel ways to disrupt current structures and practices are necessary to move the field towards a more inclusive model for educating students with disabilities. Multiple professionals are involved in interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement individualized education programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities, extending the pool of stakeholders in special education far beyond the special education teacher. Achieving a strong understanding between the multiple professions involved in IEP development and implementation will improve data-based individualization, the fidelity of program implementation, and the sustainability of practices and services. The Handbook of Research on Interdisciplinary Preparation for Equitable Special Education explores and highlights interdisciplinary personnel preparation to advance special education and enhance outcomes for students with disabilities. This book also provides theories and frameworks, examples, and discussions around innovations and lessons learned from interdisciplinary preparation programs and practices. Covering key topics such as educator preparation models, equity, diverse students, and educator competencies, this premier reference source is ideal for administrators, principals, researchers, academicians, practitioners, scholars, instructors, and students.

Given the importance of the development of intellectualism and the need to ensure equity and access to learning experiences, educators at all levels must be aware of research-based protocols to identify, serve, and evaluate programs for diverse gifted learners. It is essential to understand how gifted education can increase equity in identification practices for historically underrepresented groups, what the specific curricular opportunities are that must be provided to learners to develop gifted programs, and what the key considerations are to the design and implementation of authentic and equitable programs for gifted learners. Creating Equitable Services for the Gifted: Protocols for Identification, Implementation, and Evaluation curates cutting-edge protocols in the field of gifted education related to the areas of equitable identification, implementation of services, and programmatic assessment. These protocols seek to initiate discussion and critical discourse regarding diverse gifted learners among higher education faculty, state department personnel, district administrators, and classroom teachers. Covering topics such as digital differentiation, equitable assessment, and STEM education, this text is ideal for teacher education programs, preparation programs, university degree programs, university credential programs, certificate programs, faculty, graduate students, state departments of education, superintendents, coordinators, administrators, teachers, professors, academicians, and researchers.

Much of the research about teachers focuses on "those who can't/don't/aren't good" in the classroom. However, teachers who are gifted and talented exist, but there has been little attention to date on the characteristics and practices of such teachers in the classroom. While few, the examples of research on positive teacher attributes include work on the "expert," "authentic," and "creative," as well as examples of research on eminent adults. Identifying, Describing, and Developing Teachers Who Are Gifted and Talented is an essential reference source that discusses behaviors and traits in teachers who are considered gifted and talented as well as case studies on the identification and preparation of teachers who fall into this category. Featuring research on topics such as creative innovation, emotional intelligence, and skill development, this book is ideally designed for educators, administrators, researchers, and academicians.

When children with learning challenges are identified, the educational community in the United States diligently applies a well-established model of remediation that has, for the most part, yielded positive results. Research, however, has demonstrated that the American perception of disability may vary from those in Eastern cultures. These cultural differences can play a significant role in the failure to achieve learning success on behalf of children from the Middle East, North Africa, and Southwest Asian (MENASWA) families. It is critical for the school community to recognize and acknowledge these differences and bring them into alignment in order to meet these students' learning needs. Learning Challenges for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Students With Disabilities is an essential reference publication that identifies ways in which CLD families can be involved with schools to help build educators' cultural competence and explores the idea of disabilities as a social model with a focus on strengths rather than a medical model focused on needs and weaknesses. Featuring coverage on a wide range of topics including racial identity, leadership wisdom, and family-school collaboration, this book is ideally designed for educators, principals, administrators, curriculum developers, instructional designers, policymakers, advocates, researchers, academicians, and students.

Issues of cultural identity and cultural heritage are at the heart of contemporary discourses in many parts of the world. They are used to identify and address the inequalities by marginalized groups; however, they also feed the re-nationalization and ethno-purist fantasies. But what exactly is culture? In this volume, the authors explore how culture is conceptualized and practised by young people in eight countries in numerous and very diverse contexts - schools, interest clubs, organizations and informal youth groups. The chapters show that concepts of culture vary widely within and across sites, regions and countries, highlighting the common, as well as particular, challenges that notions of identity and heritage pose for young people who often aspire to an inclusive and open society

School of Errors establishes another voice in the discussion of how to promote safe schools. It challenges the unchecked expansion of school fortification and questions the realized benefit of inter-agency collaboration during a sentinel event. This book offers an alternative to traumatizing simulations by providing clear options for improving school safety by the empirically-proven effective measures of leakage detection (preventive) and sensemaking (reactive). School of Errors restores the scientific method to school safety and clears a path through the media rhetoric fogging this vital topic.

Preparing multilingual students with diverse learning needs and abilities to meet the demands of the Next Generation Learning Standards and the 21st Century workforce requires a re-envisioning of teacher preparation and classroom instruction. Multilingual learners with disabilities must be acknowledged for the assets they bring and engaged in classroom learning that is rigorous and relevant. This book addresses the historical context of the field, while also delving into the programmatic and pedagogical practices that will prepare students for success. It explores aspects of general education, special education and bilingual education, and how these fields intersect and overlap in districts, schools and classrooms. From the culturally and linguistically sustaining multi-tiered systems of support necessary in the general education and bilingual classroom, to the referral and identification processes, to appropriate service delivery models, this book addresses the apparent as well as the nuanced considerations that will assist educators in providing educational services to some of our most vulnerable students. This book particularly addresses the complex intersection of bilingual education and special education. It provides practical solutions to current dilemmas and challenges today's educators of multilingual learners with, without, and at risk for disabilities, face in the classroom. Addressing the needs of these students through an intersectional lens is paramount to closing the achievement gap that exacerbates the negative academic outcomes of culturally and linguistically diverse students with and without disabilities. It provides a comprehensive introduction to bilingual special education in today's educational landscape.

The greatest advantage of modern technology is its ability to improve the lives of all. In particular, new technologies have the potential to greatly mitigate cognitive, motor, and social impairments stemming from genetic or environmental factors. Recent Advances in Assistive Technologies to Support Children with Developmental Disorders raises awareness of disabled children and what can be done to help them grow and develop alongside their peers. Bringing together personal experiences with academic investigation, this book is an essential reference for doctors, pediatricians, pre- and primary school educators, and scientists working to enhance the impact assistive technologies have on the youngest members of society.

Educators are continually pressured to create interesting and educational lessons for students of varying learning abilities. While technology steadily improves classroom learning, education systems struggle to develop more innovative teaching methods for students with disabilities. Cases on Service Delivery in Special Education Programs compiles real-world case studies on successful classroom models and practices to provide rewarding learning environments for students with disabilities. Addressing topics such as behavior modification, social development, and teacher collaboration, this publication is an essential reference source for special education teachers, supervisors, directors, administrators, principles, and policymakers, as well as academicians and researchers interested in developing special education programs within school districts and classrooms.

Intended for parents, general and special education teachers, Inclusion: The Dream and the Reality in Special Education is a book about laws and practices that impact the inclusion of students with disabilities in public schools. Each chapter illustrates a child who presents a challenging problem. The book presents inclusion issues through compelling stories. People rarely change their attitude based on facts. Stories can change the way we think and feel about issues. Written by a college professor, teacher candidates find these experiences hilarious or tragic, but always illuminating. As new teachers they must be prepared to confront the important challenge in our schools- reaching every single student, black, white, indifferent or frightened. This is the secret strength and wonder of the American educational system.

Intended for parents, general and special education teachers, Inclusion: The Dream and the Reality in Special Education is a book about laws and practices that impact the inclusion of students with disabilities in public schools. Each chapter illustrates a child who presents a challenging problem. The book presents inclusion issues through compelling stories. People rarely change their attitude based on facts. Stories can change the way we think and feel about issues. Written by a college professor, teacher candidates find these experiences hilarious or tragic, but always illuminating. As new teachers they must be prepared to confront the important challenge in our schools- reaching every single student, black, white, indifferent or frightened. This is the secret strength and wonder of the American educational system.

In 1987, when Pat Linkhorn found herself raising two daughters with special needs, she had to rely on letters to get the information she needed. These days, the process of finding information for children with disabilities is much more straightforward. In this collection of writings, Linkhorn shares a personal account of her experiences and offers advice on dealing with the various issues that she encountered through the years.Linkhorn hopes to help parents of special needs children find the humor amid the absurdity of life. Join her as she recalls navigating the choppy waters of serving as an advocate for her children and others with special needs. She offers advice on making decisions that benefit special needs children; dealing effectively with agencies, committees, and people; and telling your story in a way that generates attention.As the mother of one autistic daughter and another who was born prematurely and is blind, Linkhorn has dealt with and worked for numerous social and educational agencies devoted to helping special needs individuals for more than twenty years. No longer constrained by agency rules and guidelines, she is off the fence and she tells her tale of survival and victory and explains how the system really works.

* Helps the reader conceptualize interpersonal dynamics in the special education process, provide examples of effective oral communication, and describe essential meeting facilitation practices that collectively make facilitation a professional art * School psychologists from around the country share how they structure meetings, provide examples of language they use to communicate important educational and psychological concepts, and describe the persona they present to support the meeting process * Highlights meeting facilitation as a unique professional skillset and art, probing practitioners' experiences in the setting where school psychologists advocate for students, empower families, build consensus among team members, and make meaningful change for individuals they serve

The Big Book of Blob Feelings uses questions linked to specially selected, photocopiable pictures to help you explore feelings with those who struggle to communicate about their emotions. Tried, tested and loved internationally, this inspirational resource includes a wealth of material around: Blob Theory - the feelosophy, our open-question approach and the importance of allowing people to express their choices freely; Emotions - every day we all experience a wide range of feelings, a broad selection of which have been illustrated to kick-start discussions; Developmental issues - the objective of each of the sheets is to see people of all ages grow in their awareness of who they are, their uniqueness, and how they can develop those gifts further as they share with others. Each picture is accompanied by ideas and questions to kick-start class, group or one-to-one discussion so that everything in the book is relevant to your needs in your setting. The complete book is also included electronically on the accompanying downloadable resources so that you can print and re-use resources as often as you need to. The perfect companion to this book is The Big Book of Blob Feelings 2, which provides a huge range of new material while following the same structure and approach.

This book was written for every parent who has ever struggled with that uneasy, anxious, apprehensive gut feeling. You are convinced something is wrong or perhaps different with your child but you just can't put your finger on it. You talk to teachers, administrators, anyone who will listen. They suggest this or tell you to do that. You know deep down inside that it probably isn't the solution, but you are not the expert, so you do what you are told. Slowly, the school year goes by, then the next and the next and nothing changes. Sometimes you start to feel like you are going crazy, that you are obsessing.

This book is for any parent, who has lost hope, to know that you are not alone. It is for the parent who needs to ask questions, but does not know where to find answers. Most of all, I hope, through our story, some parents will feel empowered enough to fight for their child, no matter what it takes, without fear of retribution, from their school system. You are your child's best advocate. You need to speak up

Whatever issues you might be having with your child, there is something in our story for everyone. Included are actual emails, transcripts and more. I want to share the pain, the fear, the joy, the uncertainty, some direction and hopefully some insight.

You must look beyond the report cards but prepare yourself. You might uncover your own incredible, mind-boggling, unbelievable stories that may seem absurdly unREAL

Acquired brain injury (ABI) describes damage to the brain that occurs after birth, caused by traumatic injury such as an accident or fall, or by non-traumatic cause such as substance abuse, stroke, or disease. Today's medical techniques are improving the survival rate for people of all ages diagnosed with ABI, and current trends in rehabilitation are supporting these individuals returning to live, attend school, and work in their communities. Yet strategies on the best way of providing community participation vary among rehabilitation experts. Because many of survivors of ABI do not and will not return to the status quo of their former lives it is important to examine what constitutes best and promising practices in this area. This casebook is the world's first compilation of evidence-informed programmes that foster community participation for people of all ages with brain injury. With this review, the authors elicited and carefully examined existing programmatic efforts that combine emphasis on the individual, the social, and the service systems in a way that captures community participation as a complex process of interactive change in the person-environment relationship - programmes that do not divorce ABI survivors from their contexts, and where participation efforts facilitate positive change in the social and political context. They considered community-based programmes to be programmes where individuals and families actively participate in their own therapy (rehabilitation) and take responsibility for their own health or that of a family/community member. Each case study chapter depicts a programme chosen on its extraordinary merits to provide community participation to its clients. The chapters are cowritten by the stakeholder and a researcher, giving a complete perspective of how the programme was established and continues to operate, and provides evidence of excellence.