Few parents and educators understand special education-its terms, philosophies, and process. This easy-to-read book contains a step-by-step discussion of the special education process and has hundreds of additional resources for parents including professional organizations, support groups, and useful websites. It will help parents and students minimize the inevitable anxiety associated with enrolling in a special education program. They will also gain insight into the legal rights and responsibilities associated with having a child in special education and learn how to develop effective educational plans and strategies for building effective educational teams along with basic information regarding common disabilities.

Primarily written for family members of children with disabilities, this book will also be useful for educators who are unfamiliar with special education as well as special educators who are new to the field.

By Robert Evert Cimera

Chapter 1 Preface
Chapter 2 Acknowledgments
Chapter 3 1 An Introduction to Special Education
Chapter 4 2 The Legalities of Special Education
Chapter 5 3 The Special Education Process
Chapter 6 4 Developing Individualized Education Programs
Chapter 7 5 Very Basic Information Regarding Common Disabilities
Chapter 8 6 Collaboration and Team Building
Chapter 9 7 Resources for Families, Professionals, and Individuals with Disabilities
Chapter 10 Glossary
Chapter 11 Bibliography
Chapter 12 Index
Chapter 13 About the Author