| About the Author. |
| Acknowledgments. |
| Purpose of the Book. |
| Part One: Introduction: Roles and Responsibilities. |
| Chapter 1: What Do Special Education Teachers Do? |
| Chapter 2: Disability Classifications. |
| Chapter 3: The Special Educator’s Responsibilities. |
| Chapter 4: Roles in Special Education. |
| Part Two: The Special Education Process. |
| Chapter 5: Overview of the Special Education Process. |
| Chapter 6: Identification of a Suspected Disability. |
| Chapter 7: Assessment, Diagnosis, Classification, and Placement of a Child with a Suspected Disability. |
| Sources of Referral. |
| The Multidisciplinary Team (MDT). |
| The Written Referral. |
| Obtaining Consent for Evaluation. |
| The Assessment. |
| 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. |
| The Educational Report. |
| Second Child Study Team Meeting: Development of the Eligibility Presentation Packet. |
| What You Need to Know If Asked to Be the Case Manager for a Presentation at the Eligibility Committee. |
| Part Three: The Special Educator’s Role in the Special Education Process. |
| Chapter 8: Reporting Formal Assessment Results to Parents. |
| Chapter 9: Participating in the Eligibility Committee. |
| Chapter 10: Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). |
| Chapter 11: Alternate Testing Modifications. |
| Chapter 12: The Special Educator’s Role in the Annual Review Process. |
| Chapter 13: The Special Educator’s Role in the Triennial Evaluation. |
| Chapter 14: The Special Educator’s Role in Transition Services. |
| What Are Transition Services? |
| The Individualized Transitional Education Plan (ITEP). |
| Transition Checklist. |
| Vocational Assessments. |
| Training and Work Options. |
| Travel Training. |
| Medical and Financial Options. |
| Medicaid. |
| Medicare. |
| Supplemental Security Income (SSI). |
| Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). |
| Food Stamps. |
| Chapter 15: Assistive Technology and the Special Educator. |
| Part Four: Working as a Special Education Teacher. |
| Chapter 16: Getting Ready for School. |
| Chapter 17: Curriculum Considerations for Special Educators. |
| Chapter 18: Classroom Management Techniques for Children with Disabilities. |
| Part Five: What Special Educators Need to Know and Do About . . . . |
| Chapter 19: Common Disorders Seen by Special Educators. |
| Developmental Disorders. |
| Mental Retardation. |
| Autism. |
| Developmental Arithmetic Disorder. |
| Developmental Expressive Writing Disorder. |
| Developmental Reading Disorder. |
| Developmental Expressive Language Disorder. |
| Behavior Disorders. |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). |
| Conduct Disorder. |
| Oppositional Defiant Disorder. |
| Antisocial Personality Disorder. |
| Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence. |
| Anorexia Nervosa. |
| Bulimia Nervosa. |
| Selective Mutism. |
| Tourette’s Syndrome. |
| Functional Encopresis. |
| Functional Enuresis. |
| Anxiety and Mood Disorders. |
| 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. |
| Part Six: Dealing with Parents of Children with Disabilities. |
| Chapter 21: Helping Parents Help Their Children with Homework. |
| Chapter 22: Helping Parents Use Effective Discipline at Home. |
| Chapter 23: Helping Parents Communicate Better with Their Children. |
| Chapter 24: Helping Parents Improve Their Children’s Self-Esteem. |
| Chapter 25: What Parents Need to Know About Retention. |
| Chapter 26: Helping Parents Improve Their Children’s Study Skills. |
| Part Seven: A Law Primer for Special Educators. |
| Chapter 27: Basic Educational Law. |
| Chapter 28: Understanding Eligibility Committees. |
| Chapter 29: The Concept of Procedural Due Process. |
| Chapter 30: The Concept of Least Restrictive Environment. |
| Chapter 31: Parents’ Rights in the Special Education Process. |
| Chapter 32: Mandated Reporting of Abuse and Neglect. |
| Part Eight: Appendixes. |
| Appendix A: Sample Psychoeducational Reports. |
| Appendix B: Acronyms Used in Special Education. |
| Appendix C: Basic Legal Terminology. |
| Appendix D: Educational Terminology Associated with Special Education. |
| Appendix E: Psychological Terminology Associated with Special Education. |
| Appendix F: Medical Terminology Associated with Special Education. |
| Appendix G: Occupational Therapy Terminology. |
| Appendix H: Organizations Associated with Special Education. |
| Appendix I: Organizations on Transition and Vocational Skills. |
| Appendix J: Special Education Web Sites. |
| Appendix K: Sample IEP. |
| Appendix L: References and Suggested Reading. |