Early childhood education (ECE) has always been intertwined with the use of developmentally appropriate practice (DAP). To support excellence in ECE, it is critical how the knowledge about individual children and child development principles combined with the knowledge of effective early learning practices. Effective early childhood education involves an interdisciplinary collaborative process that is influenced by many factors. We present these aforementioned realities in Educating Young Children With and Without Exceptionalities: New Perspectives. In addition, we argue that general and special educators need to focus on applying new knowledge to better address critical issues that advance the field of educator preparation and improve educational outcomes for young children. Early childhood research confirms the need for intensive intervention and remedial education-we need to avoid approaches that are "too little" or "too late." Also proven to yield positive results for children are practices familiar to early childhood educators. These practices include relationship-based teaching and learning; partnering with families; adapting teaching for children from different backgrounds and for individual children; active, meaningful, and connected learning; and smaller class sizes. Evidence of the benefits of these practices suggests that they should be extended more widely into the elementary grades.

A volume in Contemporary Perspectives in Special Education Series Editors: Anthony F. Rotatori, Saint Xavier University and Festus E. Obiakor, Valdosta State Univversity Multicultural Education for Learners with Special Needs in the Twenty-First Century provides general and special educators innovative information that address the road blocks to effective practice such that diverse learners will be appropriately; identified, assessed, categorized, placed and instructed. The book provides those who instruct diverse learners comprehensive, creative and best practice chapters by scholars in the area of multicultural education. Chapter One presents a system to reduce traditional education road blocks that confront diverse learners called Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching (CLRT). The CLTR system is designed to accomplish three objectives, namely, to increase student achievement, to help students develop skills to achieve economic sufficiency and to allow students to acquire citizenship skills based on a realistic and thorough understanding of the political system. Chapter Two discusses the pervasive problem of disproportionate representation of students from diverse backgrounds in special education by examining what it is, who is impacted by it, why it is occurring, and how it can be addressed using promising strategies. Chapter Three examines the use of authentic assessment to provide feedback for teachers and students, and guide the instructional process by differentiating teaching to meet the educational needs of diverse learners. Chapters Four, Five, Six and Seven address issues related to educating Latina/o Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans and Native Americans learners with special needs. Chapter Eight is a unique chapter that addresses the growing need to educate foreign-born immigrants who are now being referred to as "Today's Special Learners in Schools." This chapter delineates the use of the Comprehensive Support Model (CSM) to educate foreign-born learners who are identified by the authors as foreign-born English Language Learners. The CSM is recommended as a culturally sensitive intervention that integrates efforts of the self, (i.e., learner), families, school, community, and government in responding to the needs of diverse learners. Chapter Nine provides a comprehensive discussion of how Culturally Relevant Leadership (CRL) can impact educational theory and practice. The authors delineate how CRL leads to reflective practices which position teachers and administrators to become leaders in school change that can increase student success for diverse learners. Chapter Ten provides the reader with illustrative content regarding the use of technology to educate multicultural learners with special needs. Chapter Eleven delineates the culturally responsive infusion of effective behavior modification strategies that are designed to strengthen and facilitate positive behaviors for culturally and linguistically diverse learners with special needs. The book is an important addition to the education of multicultural learners with special needs as it provides much needed direction for the effective instructional practices for today's diverse students. The book can be used as current best practices for special and general educators as well as school administrators

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) has received considerable educational, research, medical and media attention the past ten years. Yet the condition was first described more than a hundred years ago. Due to the disorder being confused with childhood schizophrenia, there was a lack of definitive attention by special educators, medical professionals and mental health clinicians to advance parameters related to: causes; prevalence; identification and diagnosis; education and treatment. Positively, this confusion changed starting in the 1980s with the clarification of the differences between these disorders with the 1980 publication of the" Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM-III). Soon after, the 1990 federal legislation "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act" recognized the disorder as a disability category eligible for special education services. Both of these events lead to an explosion of information related to: finding causes; accurate identification and diagnosis; best educational practices; and social, emotional, and behavioral treatments. Even with this explosion in the body of knowledge concerned with this disorder, much more needs to be learned and discovered. The successful use of this body of knowledge requires that accurate information be provided to educators, parents, clinicians, medical professionals, and mental health professionals to counter misinformation that exists among the general public, educators and clinical professionals. This is the primary purpose of "Autism Spectrum Disorders: Inclusive Community for the 21st Century." It is accomplished by chapters on: the delineation of a blueprint for systems of care for persons with ASD and their families; a model to assist professionals in tackling the challenge of developing employability for individuals with high functioning ASD; best practice and research guidelines that lead to an affirmative ASD diagnosis; a comprehensive and current synopsis of genetic factors associated with ASD; adjustment challenges that may be present for a sibling of an individual with ASD; a comprehensive description of an innovative community-based clinic that provides services needed by Individuals with ASD to meet their social, behavioral, educational and mental health needs; and effective treatment strategies and techniques that can be utilized by parents and educators to work effectively with children who have ASD. The chapters are written by researchers, clinicians, business professionals, and university professors who have an extensive knowledge of ASD. The contents of the book are an excellent reference for special education teachers, school psychologists, practicing mental health clinicians, and parents and family members of children and adults with ASD.

The purpose of this book is to provide a forum for an interdisciplinary scholarly dialogue with regard to preparing teachers for early childhood special education. In addition, it is aimed at examining and making available relevant and most recent scholarship to practitioners and at addressing critical issues and perspectives around preparing effective educators for the 21 century classroom and the future. This book intends to illuminate a complex and challenging task of preparing effective educators through the lenses of several educational disciplines, including but not limited to, teacher education, general education, special education, early childhood education, and urban education. The information in this work will focus on several educational disciplines that have the most immediate implications for teacher preparation and practice. The overall educational knowledge base will be enhanced due to the educational interdisciplinary approach. This has additional implications for teacher education, special education, educational leadership, curriculum and instruction, educational policy, and urban education, to name a few. The multidimensional nature of the book gives it the freedom to highlight multiple and diverse voices while at the same time providing a forum for different (and sometimes divergent) methodologies, philosophies, and ideologies.

This book provides a practical focus and framework for establishing insightful leadership that will enhance the learning of students with exceptionalities in the 21st century by discussing critical leadership dimensions and topics by leading academics. Topics discussed include the following: shifting leadership paradigms for all students in general and special education, district leadership strategies for implementing individualized academic and behavioral student interventions, preparing leaders to work with students with diverse learning needs, critical leadership roles for regular classroom teachers in educating learners with special needs, innovative leadership to increase school completion and graduation of general and special education learners, why psychologists need to be a part of the school leadership team, the importance of culturally responsive leadership in general and special education, the role of school leaders in helping learners with physical and health impairments, school leadership for all students in rural schools, the use of technology by leaders to improve special education services, an international example model of leadership in general and special education, and future perspectives of leadership in special education. Leadership Matters in the Education of Students with Special Needs in the 21st Century is a critically needed addition to the successful education of students with exceptionalities as it provides much needed and innovative leadership perspectives for effective instructional practices for today's students with special needs. The book can be a model for best practices for school district leadership teams challenged by the multifaceted needs of students with exceptionalities.

This book provides readers with a comprehensive description of procedures and practices that can enhance special education collaboration, consultation and cooperation in classroom learning environments and ancillary educational services. Experts in the field of special education provide detailed information on critical topics such as fostering the collaboration between regular education and special education teachers. Detailed discussions also focus on the role of mental health providers in special education, and the innovative use of technology in enhancing partnerships in general and special education. Unique chapters include the psychologist in the special education process, the role of the government as a partner to enhance special education services, and the vital role that principals play as school leaders to insure that special education students garner the necessary services to maximize their learning potential. Lastly, the critical roles that speech and language and physical education specialists play are discussed with regard to optimizing the overall development of students with special needs.

This proposed volume will provide in-depth coverage about a construct known as the broad autism phenotype (BAP). The BAP encompasses biological, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and interpersonal characteristics resembling those found on the autism spectrum, although more subtle than what is evident among individuals who meet formal criteria for an autism spectrum diagnosis. Initially identified in 1994, the BAP has been receiving increased attention due to the recognition of autism as a spectrum of disorders that vary in symptoms and severity.

The use of the Internet to post information on teaching children with exceptionalities has led to problems for professionals who prefer such knowledge to be screened for accuracy. This volume includes useful, validated information that will help teachers to teach children with exceptionalities more effectively. The authors argue that effective education must facilitate the identification, evaluation, and placement and instructional programming for learners with exceptionalities. Based upon the school improvement and effective education literature and standards-based reform movement, schools must adopt principles of school effectiveness and offer classroom instruction that is based upon a clear assessment of the instructional needs of learners with exceptionalities and the implementation of interventions to maximize their potential and classroom performance. The book is designed to examine research from the disciplines of psychology, sociology, organizational theory, curriculum and instruction, and special education to address the critical issues related to the psychology of effective education for learners with exceptionalities. Contributors address a broad range of topics for restructuring general and special education into a unified system of education. Issues of labeling, classification, and identification; a continuum of educational and service delivery alternatives; curriculum and instruction; assessment and evaluation; distribution of funding resources; responsibilities; rationales for the grouping; and tracking of students are discussed across categories of exceptionalities. Part I of this book is organized around current perspectives and paradigms reflecting the authors' professional knowledge base in special education and the unification of general and special education into a comprehensive service delivery system. Part II specifically addresses a range of issues and topics of effective education for learners with exceptionalities. Part III addresses a range of issues and topics of effective education for learners with exceptionalities across the life span and for special student populations.

This series is aimed at graduate students in special education, educational psychology, and developmental and clinical psychology. Various contributors discusses basic theoretical positions and empirical findings within various professions which provide the foundation for research and clinical/educational applications to exceptional children. Included are chapters covering aspects of cognition, perception, language, memory, attention, motivation and socialization, as well as chapters dealing with behaviourist, psychodynamic, piagetian and cross-cultural approaches to understanding a typical development. Taken as a whole, this series identifies the important substantive constructs and concepts which provide the underpinnings for applied practice and research in special education and related fields.

Hardbound. This volume is a collection of chapters that is creatively organized to address current topics, issues, and practices related to providing comprehensive special education services for learners with exceptionalities in inclusive settings. Each chapter highlights innovative techniques that work for those learners. The chapters are punctuated with teaching ideas and practical tips that are very valuable in efforts to translate research resources and rhetoric into professional practice. The information presented reflects multiple perspectives, points of view, and philosophies as well as a movement to connect parents with teachers, professionals with professionals, and schools with communities.

The contributors to this book cover theoretical aspects of leadership, current legal topics and issues, and best practices related to special education administration. They draw heavily from the current literature research base and best practices.

This series is aimed at graduate students in special education, educational psychology, and developmental and clinical psychology. Various contributors discusses basic theoretical positions and empirical findings within various professions which provide the foundation for research and clinical/educational applications to exceptional children. Included are chapters covering aspects of cognition, perception, language, memory, attention, motivation and socialization, as well as chapters dealing with behaviourist, psychodynamic, piagetian and cross-cultural approaches to understanding a typical development. Taken as a whole, this series identifies the important substantive constructs and concepts which provide the underpinnings for applied practice and research in special education and related fields.

This book addresses prominent trends in learning disabilities in a systematic and comprehensive manner. The books major premise focuses on the early identification and intervention of learning disabilities which can positively impact a childs academic performance by making achievement possible. Critical information is discussed to prevent undected learning disability which may lead even an older student to struggle with poor grades, low self-esteem, loss of interest in higher education, and reduced employment.

The book presents current knowledged based information on forces outside of the school that impact the field of learning disabilities such as, advances in evaluation and testing, diagnostic imaging of the functioning brain, evolving ways of conceptualizing learning disabilities that include multicultural perspectives, challenges to conventional views of intelligence and new federal laws that place performance demands upon schools. Additionally, instructional best practice approaches and new technology is provided that should enhance the academic teaching of students. There is even a chapter on a model inner city program that discusses teaching of students with severe learning difficulties. Finally, there is a chapter on the role that school counselors play in planning for college and careers in a climate of societal expectation that promotes a college education as an obtainable goal for students with learning disabilities.

The book is valuable to general and special education teaches, school psychologists, teacher educators, practicing mental health clinicians, and school and career counselors. A secondary audience is graduate students in special education andcounseling graduate programs who need a comprehensive resource book on current trends and best practices.

This two-part volume addresses the specific area of interdisciplinary connections within special education research. Special education has transformed as a result of legislation, new trends and current research investigations. Currently, there is no comprehensive resource that effectively covers these advances. Continuing the approach of Part A, Part B allows readers to follow interdisciplinary connections within special education as it relates to the roles of audiologists, surgeons, vision specialists and school nurses.

The volume provides a comprehensive discussion of special education from across the globe. The volume includes chapters from major countries such as United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Russia and Japan as well as countries such as Nigeria, Israel and Pakistan. Discussions related to these countries will include information on origins of special education specific to that country, prevalence and incidence rates, trends in legislation and litigation, educational interventions, working with families, teacher training, a perspective on the progress of special education, and challenges that remain.

This volume addresses the most current perspectives and issues related to learning disabilities and is written by leaders in the field of learning disabilities. The layout of the book and ordering of chapters will allow readers to follow learning disabilities in a very logical and thoughtful process from legal issues, identification, and assessment, to effective practices and response to intervention finally ending with practical issues of inclusion, working with families, and teacher preparation. Chapters can be read in order or independently which will allow readers considerable versatility. Chapters in the book include: Legal Issues and Learning Disabilities; Themes and Dimensions of Learning Disabilities; Identification and Assessment of Students with LD; Placement of Students with Learning Disabilities; Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students who have Learning Disabilities; Prevention Strategies for At-Risk Students with Learning Disabilities; ELL Students and Learning Disabilities; Differentiating Instruction and Students with Learning Disabilities; Interventions for CLD Learners with Learning Disabilities; Positive Behavior Supports and Students with Learning Disabilities.

This volume addresses the most current perspectives and issues related to learning disabilities and is written by leaders in the field of learning disabilities. The layout of the book and ordering of chapters will allow readers to follow learning disabilities in a very logical and thoughtful process from legal issues, identification, and assessment, to effective practices and response to intervention finally ending with practical issues of inclusion, working with families, and teacher preparation. Chapters can be read in order or independently which will allow readers considerable versatility. Chapters in the book include: Inclusion and Students with Learning Disabilities; Reading Instruction and Students with Learning Disabilities; Written Instruction and Students with Learning Disabilities; Mathematics Instruction and Students with Learning Disabilities; Social Skills Training and Students with Learning Disabilities; Response to Intervention Techniques and Students with Learning Disabilities; Transition and Students with Learning Disabilities; Technology and Students with Learning Disabilities; Families and Students with Learning Disabilities; Teacher Preparation and Students with Learning Disabilities.

Along with volume 23 of the same series, this book addresses the most current perspectives and issues related to behavior disorders and it involves leaders in the behaviour disorders field. This book specifically addresses identification, assessment and instruction. This book is organized to allow readers to follow behavioral disorders in a very logical and thoughtful process. Topics addressed include legal issues, assessment, placement prevention, culturally and linguistically diverse students, English Language learners, behaviour modification as well as differentiated instruction. Chapters can be read in order or independently since they have considerable versatility. We feel that this volume of "Advances in Special Education" will be an excellent resource for special education professionals who teach and serve students with behavioral disorders.

Along with Volume 22 of the same series, this book addresses the most current perspectives and issues related to behaviour disorders and it involves leaders in the behaviour disorders field. This books specifically addresses practice concerns and students with EBD. This book is organized to allow readers to follow behavioural disorders in a very logical and thoughtful process. Topics addressed include inclusion, social skills training, effective instruction, response-to-intervention, transition, technology finally ending with working families, and teacher preparation. Chapters can be read in order or independently since they have considerable versatility. We feel that this volume of "Advances in Special Education" will be an excellent resource for special education professionals who teach and serve students with behavioural disorders.

This volume will examine the history of special education by categorical areas (e.g., Learning Disabilities, Mental Retardation, and Autistic Spectrum Disorders). Each categorical area chapter will include an examination of: changing definitions, early pioneers in the field, major contributors and their theoretical ideas, changing educational and treatment practices, working with families, the use of technology, assessment practices and legislative acts specific to that categorical area. The volume will also include chapters on the changing philosophy related to educating students with exceptionalities as well as a detailed history of legal and legislation content concerned with special education. The volume will provide readers with a unique perspective on why special education is what it is today.

"This is the second of two themed volumes addressing current issues and trends in special education. Volume 20 covers research, technology, and teacher preparation whilst volume 19 covered identification, assessment and instruction. The field of special education constantly changes as a result of legislation, new instructional formats and current research investigations. It can be difficult for general and special educators, school counselors and psychologists, administrators and practicing clinicians to keep up with these changes and be current in all areas relating to special education. The special education literature knowledge base should reflect these changes; however, there is no current resource that effectively and comprehensively does this. The purpose of "Current Issues and Trends in Special Education" is to fill this void, providing chapters written by active researchers and practitioners in their respective areas.

This is the first of two themed volumes addressing the current issues and trends in Special Education. Volume 19 covers identification, assessment and instruction whilst volume 20 covers research, technology, and teacher preparation. The field of special education constantly changes as a result of legislation, new instructional formats and current research investigations. It can be difficult for general and special educators, school counselors and psychologists, administrators and practicing clinicians to keep up with these changes and be current in all areas relating to special education. The special education literature knowledge base should reflect these changes; however, there is no current resource that effectively and comprehensively does this. The purpose of "Current Issues and Trends in Special Education" is to fill this void, providing chapters written by active researchers and practitioners in their respective areas.

This book examines real life reflections on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), current practices and issues related to assessing, instructing and life-long planning for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. School systems, mental health facilities, and society are being challenged to deal effectively with the growing number of people with autism and developmental disabilities. This is partly due to the inclusive philosophy of educating, training and treating individuals. This book provides regular, special educators, mental health professionals, clinicians and parents with information on best practices and research based findings related to: identification, characteristics, diagnosis; special, general, early and post-secondary education; and quality of life concerns. The book's chapters are topical, comprehensive and diverse. Chapters on assessment examine the emerging field of infant mental health, testing protocols, barriers to diagnosing diverse students, and recent developments in the diagnosing and assessment of autism spectrum disorders i.e. genetic testing, home movies and robots. A number of chapters on instructional aspects delineate curriculum innovations, procedures to implement social skills, assistive technology use and planning for postsecondary education. Life long planning, provides unique content on self-determination, social competence, sibling aspects, and employment and retirement considerations.

The volume will be divided into four parts. Part 1 will present an overview on disability that focuses on two major themes, namely, the biopsychosocial approaches to disability and cultural views of disability. Part 2 will examine five major areas of high incidence exceptionalities: cognitive impairment, learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity, autism spectrum disorders, behavioural/emotional disorders and speech and language disorders.

This volume addresses the most current perspectives and issues related to giftedness and is written by leaders in the field. An excellent resource for special educators, administrators, mental health clinicians, school counselors, and psychologists, this volume addresses the different educational issues that impact this population. The area of giftedness is constantly advancing as a result of legislation, new trends, and current research investigations. In addition, this area is somewhat controversial as it is often not funded under special education. The volume will allow readers to follow giftedness in a very logical and thoughtful process from theories, legal issues, identification and assessment, and placement to different populations and the impact giftedness may have on them. Also included are the topics of inclusion, differentiated instruction, effective practices, and technology. The volume concludes with chapters that address post-secondary education and families.