Bursting with practical advice, suggestions and handy tips, providing readers with a positive starting point for sharing ideas and good practice, this is a key practical guide to making learning accessible for primary and secondary school pupils with visual impairment. This user-friendly book shows how, with appropriate support, pupils with visual impairment in mainstream schools can have as rewarding an experience of education as their sighted peers. The majority of contributors are qualified teachers for visual impairment, with many years' experience working with pupils in a variety of settings. Covering the curriculum and each subject area in detail, Teaching Pupils with Visual Impairment includes guidance on: activities within and outside the classroom making the school's physical environment accessible inclusion within the school's social environment. Teachers and support staff will have immediate access to a wealth of ideas, supported by invaluable resources on the accompanying website, including a complete electronic version of the book in large print, allowing older pupils to take a more active role in the learning process.

First published in 2007. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

The Routledge Companion to Severe, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties is a timely and rich resource with contributions from writing teams of acknowledged experts providing a balance of both academic and practitioner perspectives. The book covers a myriad of topics and themes and has the core purpose of informing and supporting everyone who is interested in improving the quality of education and support for children and young adults with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties and their families. Each chapter contains careful presentations and analyses of the findings from influential research and its practical applications and the book is a treasure chest of experiences, suggestions and ideas from practitioners that will be invaluable for many years to come. The chapters include many vignettes gathered from practitioners in the field and are written specifically to be rigorous yet accessible. The contributors cover topics related to the rights and needs of children and young adults from 0-25 years, crucial features of high quality education, characteristics of integrated provision and effective and sensitive working with families to ensure the best possible outcomes for their children. Crucially, the voice of the learners themselves shines through. Historical provision that has had an impact on developing services and modern legislation aimed at improving provision and services are also discussed. The contributed chapters are organised into six themed parts: Provision for learners with SLD/PMLD. Involving stakeholders. Priorities for meeting the personal and social needs of learners. Developing the curriculum. Strategies for supporting teaching and learning. Towards a new understanding of education for learners with SLD/PMLD. This text is an essential read for students on courses and staff working in and with the whole range of educational settings catering for children and young adults with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties, not just for teachers but also for support staff, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, nurses, social workers and other specialists.

The best-selling book for teaching basic life skills, fully revised and updated

This book offers teachers and parents a unique collection of 190 ready-to-use activities complete with student worksheets, discussion questions, and evaluation suggestions to help exceptional students acquire the basic skills needed to achieve independence and success in everyday life. Each of the book's activities focuses on specific skills within the context of real-life situations and includes complete teacher instructions for effective use, from objective and introduction through optional extension activities and methods to assess student learning. The book includes numerous reproducible parent letters which can be sent home to help parents reinforce these lessons while children are away from school.A revised and updated edition of the classic book for teaching basic life skillsIncludes 190 complete activities with reproducible worksheets, discussion questions, and evaluation suggestions for developing independenceOffers ideas for developing practical skills to deal with identity theft, cell phone manners, budgeting, eating healthy meals, using credit cards, time management, and much moreMannix is the best-selling author of "Social Skills Activities for Special Children, Writing Skills Activities for Special Children," and "Character Building Activities for Kids"

Throughout my life I have been told directly and indirectly that dyslexia is found in particular people... [In fact] dyslexia can be found in someone like me. It isn't just 'okay' but something to be proud of. This book has been written because I want people to know that dyslexia can be found in people of every colour, creed, or circumstance. In this book, rising star entrepreneur Onyinye Udokporo shares her story of growing up dyslexic in a society where neurodivergence was always presented as a white male issue. Onyinye discusses her experience of being diagnosed at 11 years old, starting a business the following year, gaining a scholarship to a prestigious boarding school and going on to complete two degrees by the age of 22, while also being honest about the difficulties she faced throughout including with bullying and anxiety. She shares the tips she picked up over the years for thriving with dyslexia and the strategies she used to overcome her difficulties in reading and writing well, staying organised and speaking with confidence. Illuminating wider issues of systemic racism in the educational sector and providing a timely reminder that dyslexia can be found in any community and culture, this is an empowering story of surviving and thriving in the face of adversity.

"This isn't learning: this is fun!" - dyslexic pupil "Fantastic ideas that engage learners in their learning: thank you!" - Teaching Assistant "I like finding tactics which help me win!" dyslexic pupil "My son is now asking to play spelling games!" - parent "I like playing homework games with my dad." - dyslexic pupil "Its easy to adapt a game to suit different topics." Teacher "Things aren't so difficult now I know how to make hard things fun." dyslexic pupil Dragonfly Games is designed for use with small groups of dyslexic pupils. These practical and varied resources can be used inside and outside of the classroom to encourage over-learning and revision of curriculum topics. Stimulating and fun to do, the games help pupils: Overcome specific barriers to learning through the use of experience, over-learning and discovery Master skills beyond those of literacy and numeracy development, including thinking skills, tactical strategies, sequential application and gamesmanship. Devise their own games, developing their ability to use varied methods of application, useful for overcoming learning weaknesses within their own specific profile. . Fully updated in its second edition, this book builds on the success of the author's Dragonfly Worksheets, as featured in her previous book Supporting Dyslexia Pupils Across the Curriculum and can be used independently or in conjunction this resource. Dragonfly Games further extends the practitioner's portfolio of materials designed to successfully and effectively support the dyslexic learner. Also available from this author Supporting Dyslexic Pupils Across the Curriculum, 2nd edition, 978-1-138-77462-9 Spelling Rules, Riddles and Remedies 978-0-415-71000-8

Reading and writing skills were once confined to only a few people. Today, a person facing problems with acquiring literacy skills will run the risk of being excluded from fully participating in society. New information tends to imply even more demands on mastering reading and writing than ever before. Dyslexia was used early as a descriptive term for characterising problems of reading and writing. Since the introduction of the term, research has made impressive progress and interdisciplinary fields have been created including social studies, behavioural studies, biology, education and remediation. Above all, dyslexia research has taken a step from being descriptive to suggesting theoretical models for explaining the empirical phenomena observed. This book presents contributions from some of the world leading researchers on these issues in honour of one of the main scholars in the field, Professor Ingvar Lundberg.

To give children with congenital developmental conditions that manifest special learning needs and specific disabilities their best chance to succeed, early identification and appropriate interventions and support, is necessary. This text highlights what to look for when there are concerns about a child's development. Practical and accessible, it is divided into three sections: Part 1 looks at the theory and policy context, discussing the social model of disability, the responsibility of health, social care and education services to the child and family and the role of reviews and assessment in recognising developmental disorders. Part 2 provides a reference guide to atypical developmental conditions and disorders. For each condition, aetiology, prominent theories and research, profile of features - including triggers and behaviours, diagnostic assessment procedures and appropriate interventions are given and links made to sources of further information and support. Part 3 explores practical issues how to work sensitively and effectively with children and their families, looking at the psychological implications of diagnosis, and how to plan, promote, deliver and evaluate multi-agency support. Designed to support professionals working within a multi-modal, collaborative approach to assessment and intervention processes, it is suitable for health visitors, allied health therapists, nurses, teachers and social care practitioners. It is also a useful reference for students in these areas learning about child development and includes critical reading exercises; online searching tasks; self-assessment questions; reflective activities and document analysis prompts.

Currently, special educators are being asked to address varied needs of children with disabilities placed together in cross categorical settings. This handy guide provides educators with a clear understanding of IDEA definitions for learning disabilities, emotional/behavioral disorders, mental retardation, and autism. From there, readers will learn the key strategies that work best for each grouping of students and how to enhance the curriculum or created lessons for cross categorical groups. This unique book offers teachers a means to be an effective special educator across the spectrum of their duties.

This book is intended to provide guidance to parents, guardians, educators, and community recreation professionals regarding the importance of increased physical activity beyond the school day for children with disabilities. The book starts off by discussing early childhood development specific to children with disabilities and places emphasis on parents' roles as their advocate in school and community sports, recreational, and leisure programs. The book highlights the legal rights of a parent, their child's rights, and the equal rights that a child with a disability has when participating in interscholastic athletics and sports. Emphasis is placed on public laws that mandate educational opportunities for children with disabilities along with recent legislative updates regarding extracurricular school based activity. Finally, readers will learn how a child with a disability can be educated utilizing a variety of instructional strategies that can be helpful in the classroom and community setting. This book offers practical information on suggested activities, adaptations, and general considerations when teaching a child with a disability. The book's appendices offers a wide variety of resources ranging from sports organizations and resources from around the country along with modifications and adaptations of a variety of sports a child with a disability can participate in.

Understanding Rett Syndrome offers a concise, evidence-based introduction to Rett Syndrome (RTT), covering a range of topics from diagnosis and causes to treatment and family management. It focuses on improving the quality of life for those with the syndrome by suggesting practical ways of managing the condition at home and at school, offering support and guidance to all parents and caregivers learning how to help children with RTT. Over the course of six chapters, Fabio, Capri and, Martino explore signs and symptoms of RTT, along with an overview of treatment, therapy, and interventions for those living with the condition, focusing on technological aids such as eye-tracking and ICT and new neural techniques. Illustrated with interviews with parents of children living with RTT, Understanding Rett Syndrome is essential reading for parents and caregivers, as well as practitioners in clinical and educational psychology, counseling, mental health, nursing, child welfare, public healthcare, and those in education.

This book includes two main sections: a discussion of problem solving and a section on computation with whole numbers. A primary theme of the text is that problem solving sets the stage for meaning and conceptual development with respect to numbers. The section on problem solving includes numerous problem-solving activities that have a dual purpose: the enhancement of language comprehension and cognitive development, and the enrichment of experiences in arithmetic problem solving. The section on computation stresses the use of both traditional and alternative arithmetic algorithms. The latter are introduced so as to provide the teacher with a means to enhance performance in the area of whole number arithmetic in such a way that the difficulties of the student are circumvented. Providing a range of arithmetic activities useful in both the general education and special education settings, the book addresses needs of students in both general education and special education.

Writing is a very complex process that is difficult to teach, learn, and research. Although many students struggle with writing, composing often presents major challenges for students with disabilities. One area of written expression that presents particular difficulties for students with disabilities is motivation. Motivation is a key aspect of written expression that helps all writers complete difficult composing tasks. However, students with disabilities may have more negative motivational patterns and may also be less positive about writing and their ability as writers than their normally achieving peers. Logically, this means that effective writing intervention efforts must not only address how to write but must also articulate methods to increase students' motivation to write. This book, written for teachers, scholars, and researchers, focuses on the essential issue of helping students learn how to want to write. Each contributing author presents an important theoretical or pedagogical element of writing motivation, for example: The historical beginnings of research in this area Conceptual and methodological advances in the field of motivation to write Developmental trajectories of writing motivation in typical and atypical populations The effect of playful writing tasks on the development of writing ability as well as on motivation to write The impact of writing prompts on motivation How reading motivation relates and supports writing motivation This book was originally published as a special issue of Reading and Writing Quarterly.

Mathematics plays an important part in every person's life, so why isn't everyone good at it? The Routledge International Handbook of Dyscalculia and Mathematical Learning Difficulties brings together commissioned pieces by a range of hand-picked influential, international authors from a variety of disciplines, all of whom share a high public profile. More than fifty experts write about mathematics learning difficulties and disabilities from a range of perspectives and answer questions such as: What are mathematics learning difficulties and disabilities? What are the key skills and concepts for learning mathematics? How will IT help, now and in the future? What is the role of language and vocabulary? How should we teach mathematics? By posing notoriously difficult questions such as these and studying the answers The Routledge International Handbook of Dyscalculia and Mathematical Learning Difficulties is the authoritative volume and is essential reading for academics in the field of mathematics. It is an incredibly important contribution to the study of dyscalculia and mathematical difficulties in children and young adults.

This book is intended to provide guidance to parents, guardians, educators, and community recreation professionals regarding the importance of increased physical activity beyond the school day for children with disabilities. The book starts off by discussing early childhood development specific to children with disabilities and places emphasis on parents' roles as their advocate in school and community sports, recreational, and leisure programs. The book highlights the legal rights of a parent, their child's rights, and the equal rights that a child with a disability has when participating in interscholastic athletics and sports. Emphasis is placed on public laws that mandate educational opportunities for children with disabilities along with recent legislative updates regarding extracurricular school based activity. Finally, readers will learn how a child with a disability can be educated utilizing a variety of instructional strategies that can be helpful in the classroom and community setting. This book offers practical information on suggested activities, adaptations, and general considerations when teaching a child with a disability. The book's appendices offers a wide variety of resources ranging from sports organizations and resources from around the country along with modifications and adaptations of a variety of sports a child with a disability can participate in.

Volume 18 of International Perspectives on Inclusive Education offers multiple international perspectives on transitions for children and youth with diverse backgrounds and special needs. Transition approaches are viewed from early childhood through to post-secondary and into workplace settings using a unique convergence of integrating research and practice in schools, workplaces, organizations, and communities. Effective evidence-based programs, interventions, and strategies are also incorporated throughout, with a strong emphasis on collaborative partnerships underpinning all aspects of transition. This research is predicated on the assumption that inclusion in academic, social, vocational, and other contexts incorporates all stakeholders. Providing a focus on meaningful involvement and participation in communities and activities of choice, that secure benefits for all, the chapter authors examine both innovative evidence-based practices that facilitate transition, and potential barriers, supplemented by informative case studies. In addition to providing knowledge and skill training for establishing effective transitions, this volume views programs, attitudes, expectations, and perceptions, in relation to what it means to be accorded welcome into a particular setting.

A hands-on guide for anyone who teaches writing to students with learning disabilities

This valuable resource helps teachers who want to sharpen their skills in analyzing and teaching writing to students with learning disabilities. The classroom-tested, research-proven strategies offered in this book work with "all" struggling students who have difficulties with writing-even those who have not been classified as learning disabled. The book offers a review of basic skills-spelling, punctuation, and capitalization-and includes instructional strategies to help children who struggle with these basics. The authors provide numerous approaches for enhancing student performance in written expression. They explore the most common reasons students are reluctant to write and offer helpful suggestions for motivating them.

Includes a much-needed guide for teaching and assessing writing skills with children with learning disabilitiesContains strategies for working with "all" students that struggle with writingOffers classroom-tested strategies, helpful information, 100+ writing samples with guidelines for analysis, and handy progress-monitoring chartsIncludes ideas for motivating reluctant writersMather is an expert in the field of learning disabilities and is the best-selling author of "Essentials of Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Achievement Assessment"

In an era where assessment mandates tend to minimize or dismiss individual differences and creativity, resulting in punitive outcomes or inertia, this essential guide provides teachers with a collaborative approach to assessment that emphasizes the importance of bringing children and families into the process. Now in its second edition, Assessment of Young Children explores both standardized and authentic assessment, work sampling systems, and observation skills. Fully updated with current standards and research, this new edition also features an enhanced focus on trauma-informed practices, culturally and linguistically diverse learners, and family involvement. Lively and engaging, chapters help readers cultivate developmentally appropriate practice, create appropriate expectations, examine and celebrate children's work, interact in groups, and improve their reflective teaching. Accounts of real experiences from children, families, teachers, and administrators provide on-the-ground models of assessment strategies and demonstrate how children are affected. Exploring a variety of ways to observe and assess young children in their natural environments, this critical volume encourages an assessment strategy where the child remains the focus and collaboration with children, families, and colleagues creates an image - not a diagnosis - of the child that is empowering rather than constraining.

Three questions provide the structure of this work: what are the specific learning characteristics of children with language difficulties?; what are the critical points where such characteristics lead to difficulties in the mathematical syllabus?; and what can be done about them? Three of the features that frequently accompany children's language difficulties are discussed: a weakness in symbolic understanding; a weakness in organizational skills; and memory weakness. A number of practical suggestions are made, such as: the diverse use of number words in the child's pre-school experience; organizing mathematical word problems; and learning to count. The book is in two parts: Part One raised the problems, looks at research and suggests methods; Part Two picks up some of the methods and describes them in detail for the practitioner wanting to try them.

For students who struggle with learning to read, time is of the essence. Dyslexia Defused: Reading Struggles and Reading Solutions offers an effective and efficient instructional plan to expedite mastery. Supplementing the strongest elements of research-based programs, the original strategies readily apply to all levels of reading instruction (developmental, corrective, remedial, and adult literacy). The novel and concise techniques address all task components: phonics, decoding, sight vocabulary, oral reading, fluency, contextual analysis, and comprehension. Furthermore, contributing factors that delay reading mastery and are most often overlooked in current reading programs are identified and treated. Finally, this book underscores the social and emotional impact of reading failure on the child and those who support him or her.

This essential text supports students to develop their understanding of children and young people with special educational, and additional support needs. Up to date with the current Code of Practice and legislation, the text offers chapters on each key area of need within Early Years settings, schools and colleges, empowering readers with the confidence to address these needs effectively. The book includes case studies and examples helping to put theory into practice, in addition to learning and teaching points throughout the book, encouraging students to think critically of how they would manage particular issues. Janice Wearmouth is Professor of Education at the University of Bedfordshire.

What happens to young people who are defined as lower attainers or having learning difficulties in a global knowledge economy?

How do we stop those with learning difficulties or disabilities being seen as social problems or simply as consumers of resources?

Governments in developed countries are driven by the belief that in a global economy all citizens should be economically productive, yet they are still not clear about the relationship between the education of low attainers and the labour market. Ignorant Yobs?: Low Attainers in a Global Knowledge Economy examines this international phenomenon, exploring how those with learning difficulties are treated in a world economy where even low-skilled jobs require qualifications.

This unique book provides an examination of countries which converge on the issue of the low attaining population, despite differing on political, economic and cultural dimensions. In doing so, it considers some thorny issues at the forefront of education policy and provision:

• The increasing competitive stratification within education systems;
• The impact of governments who have put competition in the labour market at the heart of their policies;
• Social control of potentially disruptive groups, social cohesion and the human rights agenda;
• The expansion of a special education industry driven by the needs of middle class, aspirant and knowledgeable parents, anxious about the success of their less able children.

Written by an internationally renowned scholar, Ignorant Yobs?: Low Attainers in a Global Knowledge Economy synthesises a range of complex, highly topical issues and suggests how those with learning difficulties might, with government and employer support, contribute to a flexible labour market. This book, using original discussions in England, the USA, Germany, Malta and Finland, will be of interest to a wide audience of policy-makers, practitioners, administrators, and politicians, in addition to undergraduate, postgraduate and research students and academics.

"Foundations of Assessment in Early Childhood Special Education "gives pre-service and in-service early childhood and special education teachers the tools they need to best meet the needs of all children in their classrooms. Using a clear, accessible approach, the authors present the ideas in a way that is applicable both at home and in the classroom. A variety of formal and informal assessments are described, along with a number of practical skills for working effectively with all children. Real-life case studies help to explain the main ideas of each chapter, and a variety of web links plus current research help readers further explore the topics presented.

When students with disabilities transition to college, they'll find changes in the academic environment, and in the disability accommodation system. It's important to provide them with the proper preparation so they can make a confident, smooth transition. This guide starts by discussing the laws in place and the way that they shape the accommodations system. It explains students' responsibilities at college, and what their rights are if they choose to request accommodations. Next, it reviews the skills students need to manage independently at college - both personal and academic. Then it discusses how the laws address the admissions process, and shares what admissions directors said about it. It suggests how students can find a college that's a good fit in all of the important ways. Finally, it explains how students request accommodations, and what ones commonly are and aren't approved. This third edition has been greatly revised to make it equally helpful to parents and professionals. It includes updated research and interviews, and new in this edition is corrections to common myths readers may have heard.

In order to properly understand and compare traditional and innovative assessment techniques for students with disabilities, we must be able to access examples of how they work in a logical and thoughtful sequence. This finely curated collection of thirteen chapters presents ideas and research on different disability topics from key leaders in the field of the assessment of children with disabilities. Written by well-known and respected researchers, scholars, and educators who are actively involved in teaching undergraduate and graduate special education courses on the assessment of students with disabilities, this volume opens with a thorough introduction on the current situation. The topics covered by the remaining chapters include students with learning and intellectual disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, sensory impairments, extensive support needs, traumatic brain injuries, and those who are culturally and linguistically diverse, autistic, and those who have physical disabilities. The concluding chapter muses on what the future holds for traditional and innovative assessment techniques for students with disabilities. This volume is an excellent resource for special education researchers, scholars, practitioners, and professionals who teach and serve young learners with disabilities.