You are here

Special Education in Contemporary Society
Share

Special Education in Contemporary Society
An Introduction to Exceptionality

Seventh Edition


December 2019 | 656 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
Special Education in Contemporary Society: An Introduction to Exceptionality offers a comprehensive, engaging, and readable introduction to the dynamic field of special education. Grounded in research and updated to reflect the most current thinking and standards of the field, this book provides students with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and beliefs that are crucial to constructing learning environments that allow all students to reach their full potential. Authors Richard M. Gargiulo and Emily C. Bouck encourage a deep awareness and understanding of the “human” side of special education, providing students with a look into the lives of exceptional students and their families, as well as the teachers that work with exceptional persons throughout their lives. The Seventh Edition maintains the broad context and research focus for which the book is known while expanding on current trends and contemporary issues to better serve both pre-service and in-service teachers of exceptional individuals.

This title is accompanied by a complete teaching and learning package. Contact your SAGE representative to request a demo.
  • Digital Option / Courseware
    SAGE Vantage is an intuitive digital platform that delivers this text’s content and course materials in a learning experience that offers auto-graded assignments and interactive multimedia tools, all carefully designed to ignite student engagement and drive critical thinking. Built with you and your students in mind, it offers simple course set-up and enables students to better prepare for class. Learn more.
    • Assignable Video with Assessment
      Assignable video (available with SAGE Vantage) is tied to learning objectives and curated exclusively for this text to bring concepts to life. Watch a sample video now.
  • LMS Cartridge: Import this title’s instructor resources into your school’s learning management system (LMS) and save time. Don’t use an LMS? You can still access all of the same online resources for this title via the password-protected Instructor Resource Site.  Learn more.
 
Special Features
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
A Special Thank-You to Our Filming Participants
 
About the Contributors
 
About the Authors
 
PART 1 • FOUNDATIONS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION
 
Chapter 1 • Special Education in Context: People, Concepts, and Perspectives
Definitions and Terminology

 
Categories and Labels

 
Prevalence of Children and Young Adults With Disabilities

 
A Brief History of the Development of Special Education

 
Cooperative Teaching

 
Universal Design for Learning

 
Exceptionality Across the Life Span

 
 
Chapter 2 • Policies, Practices, and Programs
Litigation and Legislation Affecting Special Education

 
Educational Reform: Standards-Based Education

 
Civil Rights Legislation

 
Identification and Assessment of Individual Differences

 
Referral and Assessment for Special Education

 
Designing Individualized Instructional Programs

 
Service Delivery Options: Where a Special Education Is Provided

 
 
Chapter 3 • Cultural and Linguistic Diversity and Exceptionality
Cultural Diversity: The Changing Face of a Nation

 
Multicultural Education, Bilingual Education, and Student Diversity

 
Disproportionate Representation of Minority Students in Special Education Programs

 
Issues in Assessing Students From Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Groups

 
Educational Programming for Students With Exceptionalities Who Are Culturally and Linguistically Diverse

 
 
Chapter 4 • Parents, Families, and Exceptionality
Parent–Professional Relationships: Changing Roles

 
A Family Systems Approach

 
The Effects of a Child’s Disability on Parents and the Family

 
Stages of Parental Reaction to Disability

 
Disability and the Family

 
Working With Families Who Are Culturally and Linguistically Diverse

 
Cultural Reactions to Disability

 
Suggestions for Facilitating Family and Professional Partnerships

 
 
Chapter 5 • Assistive Technology
Technology in Education

 
Assistive Technology

 
History and Legislation of Assistive Technology

 
Assistive Technology Decision Making

 
Assistive Technology and the IEP

 
Assistive Technology Categorization

 
Devices and Tools

 
Issues With Assistive Technology

 
Assistive Technology Future Trends

 
 
PART 2 • A STUDY OF INDIVIDUALS WITH EXCEPTIONALITIES
 
Chapter 6 • Individuals With Intellectual Disability
Defining Intellectual Disability: An Evolving Process

 
Assessing Intellectual Ability and Adaptive Behavior

 
Classification of Individuals With Intellectual Disability

 
A Brief History of the Field

 
Prevalence of Intellectual Disability

 
Etiology of Intellectual Disability

 
Characteristics of Individuals With Intellectual Disability

 
Educational Considerations

 
Technology and Individuals With Intellectual Disability

 
Services for Young Children With Intellectual Disability

 
Transition Into Adulthood

 
Adults With Intellectual Disability

 
Family Issues

 
Issues of Diversity

 
Trends, Issues, and Controversies

 
 
Chapter 7 • Individuals With Learning Disabilities
Defining Learning Disabilities

 
A Brief History of the Field

 
Prevalence of Learning Disabilities

 
Etiology of Learning Disabilities

 
Characteristics of Individuals With Learning Disabilities

 
Assessment of Learning Disabilities

 
Educational Considerations

 
Technology and Individuals With Learning Disabilities

 
Services for Young Children With Learning Disabilities

 
Transition Into Adulthood

 
Adults With Learning Disabilities

 
Family Issues

 
Issues of Diversity

 
Trends, Issues, and Controversies

 
 
Chapter 8 • Individuals With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Defining Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

 
A Brief History of the Field

 
Prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

 
Etiology of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

 
Characteristics of Individuals With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

 
Assessment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

 
Educational Considerations

 
Technology and Individuals With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

 
Adolescents and Adults With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

 
Issues of Diversity

 
 
Chapter 9 • Individuals With Emotional or Behavioral Disorders
Defining Emotional or Behavioral Disorders

 
Classification of Individuals With Emotional or Behavioral Disorders

 
A Brief History of the Field

 
Prevalence of Emotional or Behavioral Disorders

 
Etiology of Emotional or Behavioral Disorders

 
Prevention of Emotional or Behavioral Disorders

 
Characteristics of Children and Youth With Emotional or Behavioral Disorders

 
Assessing Students With Emotional or Behavioral Disorders

 
Educational Considerations

 
Technology and Individuals With Emotional or Behavioral Disorders

 
Services for Young Children With Emotional or Behavioral Disorders

 
Transition Into Adulthood

 
Adults With Emotional or Behavioral Disorders

 
Family-Centered Interventions

 
Issues of Diversity

 
Trends, Issues, and Controversies

 
 
Chapter 10 • Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Defining Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Evolving Process

 
A Brief History of the Field

 
Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders

 
Etiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders

 
Characteristics of Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders

 
Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders

 
Educational Considerations

 
Technology and Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders

 
Services for Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

 
Transition Into Adulthood

 
Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders

 
Family Issues

 
Issues of Diversity

 
Trends, Issues, and Controversies

 
 
Chapter 11 • Individuals With Speech and Language Impairments
The Nature of Speech, Language, and Communication

 
Defining Speech and Language Impairments

 
Classifying Speech and Language Impairments

 
Historical Perspectives

 
Prevalence of Speech and Language Impairments

 
Etiology of Speech and Language Impairments

 
Prevention of Speech and Language Impairments

 
Characteristics of Individuals With Speech and Language Impairments

 
Assessing Speech and Language Impairments

 
Educational Considerations

 
Technology and Individuals With Speech and Language Impairments

 
Services for Young Children With Speech and Language Impairments

 
Adolescents and Adults With Speech and Language Impairments

 
Family Issues

 
Issues of Diversity

 
Trends, Issues, and Controversies

 
 
Chapter 12 • Individuals With Hearing Impairments
Definitions and Concepts of Hearing Impairment

 
A Brief History of the Field

 
Prevalence of Hearing Impairment

 
Etiology of Hearing Impairment

 
Characteristics of Individuals With Hearing Impairments

 
Assessment of Individuals With Hearing Impairments

 
Educational Considerations

 
Technology and Individuals With Hearing Impairments

 
Services for Young Children With Hearing Impairments

 
Transition and Individuals With Hearing Impairments

 
Services for Adults With Hearing Impairments

 
Family Issues

 
Issues of Diversity

 
Trends, Issues, and Controversies

 
 
Chapter 13 • Individuals With Visual Impairments
Defining Visual Impairments

 
The Eye and How It Works

 
Classification of Visual Impairments

 
A Brief History of Visual Impairments

 
Prevalence of Visual Impairments

 
The Vision Process and Etiology of Visual Impairments

 
Prevention of Visual Impairments

 
Characteristics of Individuals With Visual Impairments

 
Assessment of Students With Visual Impairments

 
Educational Considerations

 
Orientation and Mobility

 
Technology and Individuals With Visual Impairments

 
Young Children With Visual Impairments

 
Transition Into Adulthood

 
Adults With Visual Impairments

 
Family Issues

 
Issues of Diversity

 
Trends, Issues, and Controversies

 
 
Chapter 14 • Individuals With Physical Disabilities, Health Disabilities, and Related Low-Incidence Disabilities
Defining Physical Disabilities, Health Disabilities, and Related Low-Incidence Disabilities

 
A Brief History of the Field

 
Prevalence of Physical Disabilities, Health Disabilities, and Related Low-Incidence Disabilities

 
Etiology of Physical Disabilities, Health Disabilities, and Related Low-Incidence Disabilities

 
Characteristics of Individuals With Physical Disabilities, Health Disabilities, and Related Low-Incidence Disabilities

 
Assessment of Students With Physical Disabilities, Health Disabilities, and Related Low-Incidence Disabilities

 
Educational Considerations

 
Technology and Individuals With Physical Disabilities, Health Disabilities, and Related Low-Incidence Disabilities

 
Services for Young Children With Physical Disabilities, Health Disabilities, and Related Low-Incidence Disabilities

 
Transition Into Adulthood

 
Adults With Physical Disabilities, Health Disabilities, and Related Low-Incidence Disabilities

 
Family Issues

 
Issues of Diversity

 
Trends, Issues, and Controversies

 
 
Chapter 15 • Individuals Who Are Gifted and Talented
Defining Giftedness: Refining the Meaning

 
Assessing Giftedness and Talent

 
Differences Among Children Who Are Gifted and Talented

 
A Brief History of the Field of Gifted and Talented Education

 
Prevalence of Giftedness and Talent

 
Etiology of Giftedness and Talent

 
Characteristics of Individuals Who Are Gifted and Talented

 
Educational Considerations

 
Technology and Individuals Who Are Gifted and Talented

 
Services for Young Children Who Are Gifted and Talented

 
Adolescents Who Are Gifted and Talented

 
Family Issues

 
Issues of Diversity

 
Trends, Issues, and Controversies

 
 
Postscript
 
Appendix A: Federal Definitions of Disabilities
 
Appendix B: Professional Standards: Council for Exceptional Children
 
Glossary
 
References
 
Author Index
 
Subject Index

Supplements

Instructor Resource Site
edge.sagepub.com/gargiulo7e


For additional information, custom options, or to request a personalized walkthrough of these resources, please contact your sales representative.


LMS cartridge included with this title for use in Blackboard, Canvas, Brightspace by Desire2Learn (D2L), and Moodle

The LMS cartridge makes it easy to import this title’s instructor resources into your learning management system (LMS). These resources include:

  • Test banks
  • Editable chapter-specific PowerPoint® slides
  • Sample course syllabi
  • Lecture notes
  • All tables and figures from the textbook 
Don’t use an LMS platform?

You can still access all of the same online resources for this title via the password-protected Instructor Resource Site.
Student Study Site
edge.sagepub.com/gargiulo7e

The open-access Student Study Site makes it easy for students to maximize their study time, anywhere, anytime. It offers flashcards that strengthen understanding of key terms and concepts, as well as learning objectives that reinforce the most important material.

“Introductory texts in special education have a monumental task. They must provide a full overview of the field, which continues to grow in breadth and depth, while remaining accessible to students who are new to the field. Special Education in Contemporary Society provides the right combination and balance so that students understand the complexity of the field and feel energized and ready to take the next steps in their journey.”

Beverly Barkon
Carlow University

Special Education in Contemporary Society is a well-organized introductory textbook for education and non-education majors who may work with children with exceptionalities. A definite resource textbook for those just beginning in the field.”

Brian Littleton
Mott Community College

Special Education in Contemporary Society is very 21st Century Learner friendly. It contains the pertinent information needed to provide preservice teachers with an extensive overview of special education while providing a wealth of supplemental materials for both the instructor and the student.”

Katrina Jordan
University of Louisiana

Special Education in Contemporary is the quintessential text for an introduction to special education course. The authors and publisher have taken great care to understand the needs of the students. Special Education is a vast topic and this text delivers the information necessary to engage today’s learners. An instructor or teacher using this text has everything they need to successfully deliver, assess, and understand special education.”

Kelly Brooksher
Georgia Southern University–Armstrong Campus

This is a great resource--especially for an intro class. Used it with grad students already.

Dr Alison M Polly
Education/Special Educ Dept, Mansfield University
February 4, 2021

I have used the book by Gargiulo, et al for some years and was glad to get the revised edition which I used this school year in the Spring of 2021. I have always enjoyed using this very informative textbook.

Dr Jane C. Chauvin
Accounting, Loyola University-New Orleans
April 13, 2021