Building Cultural Reciprocity with Families


Book Description

Eight case studies help to show how using cultural reciprocity to build a framework for relationships can help to strengthen interactions between special education professionals and families. Harry, Kalyanpur, and Day, all special education scholars, examine the culture of special education itself,




Cultural Reciprocity in Special Education


Book Description

Prepare the next generation of teachers with this accessible text, developed by two highly respected experts on cultural and linguistic diversity and inclusive education.




Evidence-Based Practices for Supporting Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder


Book Description

This book provides resources for the identification, selection, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based practices to promote positive outcomes for learners with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) across the lifespan and to enhance their quality of life. The decision-making process for identifying and selecting evidence-based practices to address the academic, behavioral, and social needs of this population of learners is discussed, followed by a systematic description of the implementation and evaluation of evidence-based practices within the context of ongoing assessment and data-based decision making. The authors present evidence-based training models for solving the common dilemmas of selecting, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based practices. Finally, the book underlines the importance of developing collaborative partnerships with families and other professionals to better address the needs of learners with autism spectrum disorder.




Engaging and Empowering Families in Secondary Transition


Book Description

An expanded follow-up to a CEC bestseller, this guide includes tools for assessing families’ and practitioners’ engagement in practices that promote positive post-school outcomes for youth with disabilities. Engaging and Empowering Families in Secondary Transition: A Practitioner’s Guide gives schools and agencies planning tools and practical strategies to foster family partnerships in five dimensions: collaborators in the IEP process; instructors in their youth’s emergent independence; peer mentors; evaluators and decision-makers; and systems-change agents.




Just Schools


Book Description

Just Schools examines the challenges and possibilities for building more equitable forms of collaboration among non-dominant families, communities, and schools. The text explores how equitable collaboration entails ongoing processes that begin with families and communities, transform power, build reciprocity and agency, and foster collective capacity through collective inquiry. These processes offer promising possibilities for improving student learning, transforming educational systems, and developing robust partnerships that build on the resources, expertise, and cultural practices of non-dominant families. Based on empirical research and inquiry-driven practice, this book describes core concepts and provides multiple examples of effective practices. “This is the most compelling work to date on school and community engagement. It will be required reading for all my future classes.” —Muhammad Khalifa, University of Minnesota “Full of practical steps that educators and administrators can and must take to build strong collaborations with families.” —Mark R. Warren, University of Massachusetts Boston “This important publication provides a way forward for educators, families, students and community members to co-create “Just Schools” by honoring, validating, and celebrating each other’s knowledge, skills, power and resources.” —Karen Mapp, Harvard Graduate School of Education




Case Studies in Building Equity Through Family Advocacy in Special Education


Book Description

"You've read the history and the background, now meet the families! This companion book to Meeting Families Where They Are traces the advocacy journeys of 12 caregivers across a range of racial, ethnic, social, disability, economic, and family identities. The stories reflect the unique lives, histories, and needs of each family, as well as the different approaches they employ to meet the needs of their children. Caregivers indicate when they began to advocate; describe how they continue their efforts across schools, medical offices, therapies, communities, and virtual spaces; and discuss how they adapt to changing social and health climates and educational delivery modes. They also share their collective wisdom to assist other parents who are new to the advocacy platform or are feeling discouraged with the process. This is must-reading for family members, teachers, administrators, health care personnel, and everyone invested in creating a culture of respect, love, and understanding. Book Features: ] Emphasizes how families have resisted the deficit-based view of their children while still utilizing systems of support. Identifies gaps and challenges across multiple systems, as well as "what's working." Incorporates the fields of special education and disability studies in education. Uses the framework of DisCrit to explore how disability and other social identities operate in tandem, examining concepts such as power, access, privilege, and barriers. Positions caregivers as experts in their children's lives, illustrating how they advocate for their children, teens, and young adults. Takes a deep dive into the nuances of generational, cultural, organizational, and geographical factors that impact how caregivers advocate. Resists approaches that typically involve professionals dictating what families need, centering instead on a collaborative model that includes families and professionals"--




Creating Culturally Competent Teachers in Higher Education


Book Description

This book presents evidence of a longitudinal study in teacher preparation utilizing a threefold multicultural (TFM) model of immersion. It establishes the need for culturally responsive teachers in classrooms, and outlines a proven model that can be employed to prepare them. Through the TFM model elements, pre-service teacher candidates participated in class-based, cohort fieldwork experience, and reflective journal writings and discussions. Evidence was gathered from pre- and post-questionnaires, interviews, classroom discussions, and journal writings, along with the inclusion of student voices. Pre-service teacher attitudes, beliefs, and degree of cultural responsiveness changed post-study, and candidates became more effective in the classroom, highlighting the effectiveness of the TFM model. This book is an invaluable resource for universities, under- and postgraduate students, and teachers across the globe as it provides a teacher preparation fieldwork model that helps to prepare culturally responsive teachers for children in any classroom.




The Art of Collaboration


Book Description

The Art of Collaboration: Lessons from Families of Children with Disabilities, co-authored by two professors of education and a parent of a child with disabilities, draws on the literature as well as original research to explore the meaning of collaboration and the benefits and barriers to developing positive school and family partnerships. The voices and stories of families of children with a variety of disabilities and experiences are at the heart of the book, providing insights into how we might re-conceptualize collaboration as an ongoing process and an “art” built on a shared commitment to improving the lives of children and families. The book begins with an overview of the research on collaboration and explores key themes, including the process of identifying a disability, the meaning of parent knowledge and expertise in the digital age, the potential to join parent and professional knowledge for the benefit of the child and family, and approaches leading to meaningful collaboration and communication. These include a variety of family-centered tools and practices, strategies for promoting parent advocacy and leadership, and a focus on hope and resiliency. Each chapter concludes with questions for reflection and suggested activities, making it an ideal resource for both parents and professionals. Throughout, the authors critique the collaborative process, while focusing on its promises and possibilities for families, educators, and other professionals.




Handbook of School-Family Partnerships


Book Description

Family and community involvement are increasingly touted as a means of improving both student and school-level achievement. This has led to an increase in policies, initiatives and goals designed to address family involvement in schools. Once recognized and implemented, such family-school partnerships can lead to the following benefits: enhanced communication and coordination between parents and educators; continuity in developmental goals and approaches across family and school contexts; shared ownership and commitment to educational goals; increased understanding of the complexities of children’s situations; and the pooling of family and school resources to find and implement quality solutions to shared goals.




Teaching Exceptional Children


Book Description

Teaching Exceptional Children is an ideal textbook for introductory graduate and undergraduate courses on early childhood special education and teaching in inclusive classrooms. Bayat’s clear and accessible writing, a visually appealing design, and focused pedagogy in each chapter help make it possible to cover a significant amount of material. This powerful text identifies specific behavioral characteristics and presents theoretical information grounded in neuroscience and child development research for a wide range of disabilities. Research-based best practices for effectively working with children with various disabilities in inclusive classrooms are provided in each chapter. The second edition has been fully updated based on the DSM-5, and includes new sections on contemporary issues in inclusion of children with disabilities in early childhood classrooms, such as challenging behaviors, using technology, at-risk children, promoting mental health, and family issues. A robust pedagogical program, along with online resources for instructors and students, provides full support, including: Chapter Objectives and Key Terms help frame each chapter Discussion, Critical Thinking, Essay/Short Answer, and Review Questions at the beginning, throughout, and concluding chapters prompt students to fully engage with the material Homework/Field Assignments provide opportunities for students to apply their knowledge to real-world situations Real-Life Vignettes illustrate concepts in action Color Photos, Figures, and Tables clarify concepts in a visually engaging way Recommended Resources and References offer guidance for further study The companion website, http://routledgetextbooks.com/textbooks/9781138802209, includes instructor resources for teaching and planning, including an Instructor's Manual with additional ideas for assigntments and projects, web links, and video links with reflection questions; a test bank; and PowerPoint lecture slides. The site also includes tools for students to engage with and master the concepts and terminology introduced in the book.