Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Educationhas always been known for its innovation, strong research base and accessibility. The tenth edition has all of those strengths, but has a greater focus on highly effective, research-based practices that are described in a very step-by-step, applied manner. Heward presents an informative and responsible introduction to the professional practices, trends, and research that define contemporary special education while also conveying the diversity and excitement of this changing field. The book is for those teachers who will be professionals in the area of special education or those who are working with students that have exceptionalities.

William Lee Heward is Emeritus Professor of Education at The Ohio State University. He majored in psychology and sociology as an undergraduate at Western Michigan University, earned his doctorate in special education at the University of Massachusetts, and joined the special education faculty at Ohio State in 1975. Bill has served as a Senior Fulbright Lecturer in Special Education in Portugal and Visiting Professor of Psychology at Keio University in Tokyo. Among the many honors he has received are Ohio State University’s highest recognition of teaching excellence, the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Teaching Award, and the American Psychological Association’s Division 25 Fred S. Keller Behavioral Education Award for lifetime achievements in education.

Dr. Heward’s current research interests include “low-tech” methods for increasing the effectiveness of group instruction and adaptations of curriculum and instruction that promote the generalization and maintenance of newly learned knowledge and skills. Bill’s publications include seven other textbooks and more than 100 journal articles and book chapters. His research has appeared in the field’s leading peer-reviewed journals, including Behavioral Disorders, Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities, Exceptional Children, Learning Disabilities Research & Practice, Research in Developmental Disabilities, Teacher Education and Special Education, Teaching Exceptional Children, and The Journal of Special Education.

Bill has also written for the popular market. His book Some Are Called Clowns (Crowell, 1974) chronicled his five summers as a pitcher for the Indianapolis Clowns, the last of the barnstorming baseball teams.

Chapter 1:        The Purpose and Promise of Special Education

 

Chapter 2:        Planning and Providing Special Education Services

 

Chapter 3:        Collaborating with Parents and Families in a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Society

 

Chapter 4:        Intellectual Disabilities

 

Chapter 5:        Learning Disabilities

 

Chapter 6:        Emotional or Behavioral Disorders

 

Chapter 7:        Autism Spectrum Disorders

 

Chapter 8:        Communication Disorders

 

Chapter 9:        Deafness and Hearing Loss

 

Chapter 10:      Blindness and Low Vision

 

Chapter 11:      Physical Disabilties, Health Impairments, and ADHD

 

Chapter 12:      Low-Incidence Disabilities:  Severe/Multiple Disabilities, Deaf-Blindness, and Traumatic Brain Injury

 

Chapter 13:      Giftedness and Talent

 

Chapter 14:       Early Childhood Special Education

 

Chapter 15:      Transitioning to Adulthood

 

·        Categorical chapters 4-13 roughly follow the same general format:

·        Definition (and Classification)

·        Identification and Assessment

·        Characteristics

·        Prevalence

·        Causes

·        Educational Approaches

·        Educational Placement