Taking sides: Clashing views in special education / selected, edited, and with introductions by MaryAnn Byrnes.

Unit 1: Special education and society. Are labels good for kids? -- Did IDEA 2004 contain substantial changes? -- Is disproportionally high minority representation in Special Education a schools problem? -- Can RTI and IDEA child find coexist? -- Can whole-school reform reduce discipline problems? -- Are charter schools a good choice for students with disabilities? -- Should insurance cover treatments/services for autism? -- Unit 2: Access and accountability. Has the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) accomplished its goals? -- Should (RTI) intervention be delivered by Special Educators? -- Should special education and general education merge? -- Does NCLB leave some students behind? -- Should students with cognitive disabilities be expected to demonstrate academic proficiency? -- Is full inclusion the least restrictive environment? -- Should colleges be more accommodating to students with disabilities? -- Unit 3: Exceptionalities. Do gifted and talented students need special schools? -- Is mental health screening an unwarranted intrusion? -- Should the government prohibit the use of restraint and seclusion in schools? -- Is ADHD a real disorder? -- Are evidence-based practice sufficient for educating studens with autism? -- Does working with parents have to be contentious?

This volume presents current controversial issues surrounding special education in a debate-style format designed to stimulate student interest and develop critical thinking skills. Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Common special needs include challenges with learning, communication challenges, emotional and behavioral disorders, physical disabilities, and developmental disorders. This topic is framed with a general summary and introduction, and a postscript or challenge questions. This work features an annotated listing of selected World Wide Web sites and an online instructor's resource guide with testing material available. This book includes 20 issues, addressing active debates in the field, introducing questions of social policy and practice as it pertains to special education. This work also highlights perspectives on educational expectations and outcomes and presents critical considerations about atypical learners and the treatments suggested for their benefit.