Special education law and practice have undergone profound transformation over the past 50 years. Students with disabilities are now more likely to receive a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment possible; however, the ideals of the law have not always been manifested in effective practice. Although special education services are vastly better today than they were in the early years of public education, current policies and practices continue to result in the under-education of many children with disabilities. This book illustrates key failures of the system within the context of real children's experiences. The case study approach gives voice to the students, families, and educators who have been let down by the special education process. The goal is to shed light on the flaws and injustices of the status quo. After identifying these problems, the authors offer sound solutions.

The Pedagogy of Special Needs Education: Phenomenology of Sameness and Difference outlines how to understand the inner and behavioral lives of children with intellectual disability through the psychology and phenomenology of "stories" derived from the experiences of living with these children. The book inquires into the meaning of the experiences of children with intellectual developmental disability using a phenomenological method. It examines how the external behaviors of children with special needs may look different from children without these needs but actually do share many similarities at the phenomenological level of lived experience.

Drawing on the work of innovative educators, this edited volume shows how adopting a solutions focused approach can offer new constructive ways forward for special education. Diverse international contributors from both the world of special education and solutions focused thinking, offer ways to rethink special education and to focus on what can be done rather than what can't. Each chapter offers insights into how solutions focused thinking can reframe special education and the tangible results for children, families and schools.

Drawing on research and interwoven with comments from autistic child and adult contributors throughout, the book argues that inclusion will only work if the ways in which autistic children think, learn, communicate and exhibit their understanding are valued and supported. Such an approach will benefit both the learner and the whole classroom. Considering topics such as the sensory environment, support, learning and cognition, school curriculums, communication and socialisation, this much needed book offers ideas and insight that reflect the practical side of day-to-day teaching and learning, and shows how thinking differently about autism and inclusion will equip teachers to effectively improve teaching conditions for the whole school.

Towards Inclusion of All Learners through Science Teacher Education serves as an indispensable resource for teachers and teacher educators wishing to understand how to educate students with exceptionalities in science. This book begins with the voices and stories of the experts: current and former K-12 students with disabilities sharing their experiences in science education classrooms. The voices of students with disabilities are then connected to the work of leading experts in the area of science education for individuals with disabilities in an effort to address the goals of national reform documents by ensuring rigorous science experiences for all students. It is written in a highly accessible and practical manner, making it ideal for all educators including pre-service and in-service teachers, teacher educators, researchers, and curriculum developers.

Due to state and federal policies, there has been an increased emphasis on educating students with disabilities along with their nondisabled peers. This can significantly impact the way that educators view instructional design as well as influence the academic program planning of school districts. There is an apparent need for resources that provide additional insight and perspective into plans that facilitate these types of programs. Cultivating Inclusive Practices in Contemporary K-12 Education is an essential reference source that discusses comprehensive methods for teaching students across a broad spectrum of capabilities. The chapters within extend the knowledge base of inclusion by encompassing a variety of elements necessary for training and organizational development, ensuring that each student is placed within his/her least restrictive environment. Featuring research on topics such as educational environments, support frameworks, and teaching strategies, this book is ideally designed for educators, administrators, policymakers, consultants, and academicians seeking coverage on comprehensive methods for teaching students across a broad spectrum of capabilities.

The global trend in educational participation has brought with it a cross-national consequence: the expansion of students with "special needs" (SEN) placed in special education and the growth of "low achieving" students diverted to vocational tracks. This book explores the global expansion of special and vocational education as a highly variable event, not only across nations of considerable economic, political and cultural difference, but between nations with evident similarities as well. The Global Convergence of Vocational and Special Education analyzes how the concept of secular benevolence underscores the divergent and convergent trajectories that vocational and special education have taken across the globe. The authors embrace national differences as the means to observe two dicta of comparative research: similar origins can result in very different outcomes, and similar outcomes can be the result of very different origins.

This book asks a question that many educators may think, but won't say out loud: Does compliance with IDEA legislation matter? The author acknowledges that, while compliance with IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) is important, it can also be an administrative burden that detracts from practitioners' capacity to adequately serve students with disabilities. Using data collected from three suburban school districts, Voulgarides helps us to understand how compliance with IDEA intersects with decades of evidence of racial inequities in student outcomes. This timely and thought-provoking book unpacks the civil rights history of IDEA, examines the impact of its procedural focus on educational practice, and questions why racial inequities in special education persist despite good intentions by policymakers, educators, and school personnel.

For students with disabilities, including those with complex support needs, inclusion means more than just physical presence in a classroom--it means valued membership and full participation in a general education classroom and the school community. This book is your school team's practical blueprint for making authentic inclusion happen in K-12 classrooms. Taking the stress and uncertainty out of inclusion, top expert Cheryl M. Jorgensen guides you step by step through her accessible approach to creating inclusive learning environments for students with autism, Down syndrome, intellectual disability, and multiple disabilities. You'll get a clear rationale for meaningful inclusion and learn how to use strengths-based, person-centered planning to meet the needs of each individual student. Concrete, research-based examples show you what successful inclusion looks like, and ready-to-use strategies help you implement each stage of inclusion, from presuming competence to supporting the transition to adult life. Especially helpful for new teachers--but a great source of real-world ideas for any educator or parent--this essential guidebook will help your school team develop fully inclusive classrooms where every student learns and thrives.