The Special Educator's Survival Guide: (J-B Ed: Survival Guides)

Written for educators who work with special children and teens, this second edition of a best-selling classic offers a practical guide to every facet of the special education teacher’s job, from teaching in a self-contained classroom or resource room to serving on a multidisciplinary team. This easy-to-follow format, takes you step by step through the various stages required to understand the referral process, parent intakes and conferences, evaluation, interpretation, diagnosis, remediation, placement, individual education plans, classroom management, medication, educational law, and more.

Table of Contents:
About the Author iv Acknowledgments v Purpose of the Book vi Part One: Introduction: Roles and Responsibilities Chapter 1 What Do Special Education Teachers Do? 3 Chapter 2 Disability Classifications 5 Chapter 3 The Special Educator’s Responsibilities 9 Chapter 4 Roles in Special Education 13 Part Two: The Special Education Process Chapter 5 Overview of the Special Education Process 23 Chapter 6 Identification of a Suspected Disability 25 Chapter 7 Assessment, Diagnosis, Classification, and Placement of a Child with a Suspected Disability 45 Sources of Referral 45 The Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) 45 The Written Referral 47 Obtaining Consent for Evaluation 50 The Assessment 51 Academic Evaluation Language Evaluation Psychological Evaluation Perceptual Evaluation Occupational Therapy Evaluation Nonstandardized Forms of Assessment Other Areas of Assessment Understanding a Child’s Behavior During Assessment 60 The Educational Report 63 Second Child Study Team Meeting: Development of the Eligibility Presentation Packet 67 What You Need to Know If Asked to Be the Case Manager for a Presentation at the Eligibility Committee 67 Part Three: The Special Educator’s Role in the Special Education Process Chapter 8 Reporting Formal Assessment Results to Parents 81 Chapter 9 Participating in the Eligibility Committee 83 Chapter 10 Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) 87 Chapter 11 Alternate Testing Modifications 91 Chapter 12 The Special Educator’s Role in the Annual Review Process 95 Chapter 13 The Special Educator’s Role in the Triennial Evaluation 97 Chapter 14 The Special Educator’s Role in Transition Services 101 What are Transition Services? 101 The Individualized Transitional Education Plan (ITEP) 102 Transition Checklist 102 Vocational Assessments 104 Training and Work Options 105 Travel Training 106 Medical and Financial Options 107 Medicaid Medicare Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Food Stamps Chapter 15 Assistive Technology and the Special Educator 109 Part Four: Working as a Special Education Teacher Chapter 16 Getting Ready for School 119 Chapter 17 Curriculum Considerations for Special Educators 129 Chapter 18 Classroom Management Techniques for Children with Disabilities 139 Part Five: What Special Educators Need to Know and Do About . . . Chapter 19 Common Disorders Seen by Special Educators 155 Developmental Disorders 155 Mental Retardation Autism Developmental Arithmetic Disorder Developmental Expressive Writing Disorder Developmental Reading Disorder Developmental Expressive Language Disorder Behavior Disorders 167 Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) Conduct Disorder Oppositional Defiant Disorder Antisocial Personality Disorder Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence 175 Anorexia Nervosa Bulimia Nervosa Selective Mutism Tourette’s Syndrome Functional Encopresis Functional Enuresis Anxiety and Mood Disorders 183 Separation Anxiety Disorder Avoidant Disorder of Childhood and Adolescence Overanxious Disorder Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Dysthymia Childhood Depression Chapter 20 What Special Educators Need to Know About Medication 195 Part Six: Dealing with Parents of Children with Disabilities Chapter 21 Helping Parents Help Their Children with Homework 205 Chapter 22 Helping Parents Use Effective Discipline at Home 209 Chapter 23 Helping Parents Communicate Better with Their Children 213 Chapter 24 Helping Parents Improve Their Children’s Self-Esteem 217 Chapter 25 What Parents Need to Know About Retention 221 Chapter 26 Helping Parents Improve Their Children’s Study Skills 225 Part Seven: A Law Primer for Special Educators Chapter 27 Basic Educational Law 231 Chapter 28 Understanding Eligibility Committees 233 Chapter 29 The Concept of Procedural Due Process 235 Chapter 30 The Concept of Least Restrictive Environment 237 Chapter 31 Parents’ Rights in the Special Education Process 241 Chapter 32 Mandated Reporting of Abuse and Neglect 243 Part Eight: Appendixes Appendix A Sample Psychoeducational Reports 253 Appendix B Acronyms Used in Special Education 261 Appendix C Basic Legal Terminology 263 Appendix D Educational Terminology Associated with Special Education 265 Appendix E Psychological Terminology Associated with Special Education 271 Appendix F Medical Terminology Associated with Special Education 273 Appendix G Occupational Therapy Terminology 279 Appendix H Organizations Associated with Special Education 283 Appendix I Organizations on Transition and Vocational Skills 291 Appendix J Special Education Web Sites 297 Appendix K Sample IEP 299 Appendix L References and Suggested Reading 307

About the Author :
Roger Pierangelo, Ph.D., has over thirty years of experience as a classroom teacher, school psychologist, full time Associate Professor of graduate special education, clinical psychologist, forensic psychologist, and director of a private clinic. He is the author of fourteen books on special education including The Special Educator's Book of Lists, Second Edition, and Special Educator's Complete Guide to 109 Diagnostic Tests (coauthored with George Giuliani), both from Jossey-Bass.