Special Education in Contemporary Society: An Introduction to Exceptionality, Seventh Edition 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 readers 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 readers 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.
 
Review
"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
"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
"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
"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
 
About the Author
Richard Gargiulo is a professor of special education in the School of Education at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. He received his Master′s degree and PhD from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. In 1999, he was awarded the University′s President′s Award for Excellence in Teaching. He has also served as a Fulbright Scholar to the Czech Republic and has authored numerous books on the subjects of special education, early childhood education, and child abuse and neglect. He has been president of the Division of International Special Education and Services and president of the Division on Autism and Development Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children.
Emily Bouck is an Associate Professor of Special Education in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education at Michigan State University. She received her doctorate in special education from Michigan State University. Dr. Bouck is the author of numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and chapters relating to her two main areas of research: mathematics education for students with disabilities and functional life-skills education for students with disabilities with a central theme of assistive technology throughout both areas. Dr. Bouck is a Past President of the Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children and has also been active in the Technology and Media Division of the Council for Exceptional Children. Dr. Bouck taught courses on assistive technology; social, legal, and ethical issues in special education; special education methods; and doctoral seminars. She has experience working with a range of students with disabilities in school-settings from preschool through age 26.