SPecial education is the story of people. It is the story of the parents and teachers

who work together to meet the needs of a preschool child with multiple handi-

caps. It is the sto~ of the sixth-grader with cerebral palsy who encounters both

"regular" and "special" teachers in her public school. It is the story of the gifted child

who brings new insights to old problems, the blind high school student who is learning

English as his second language, and the woman who has recently moved into a group

home, after spending many years in a large institution. Special education is their story.

Our field is comparatively young and is evolving rapidly; we have never found

special education to be dry, dull, or pendantJc. In writing the first edition of Exceptlbnal

Children more than eight years ago. we sought to convey the diversity and excitement

of special education, and to tell the story of the many people who participate in it.

This objective remains unchanged. We hope, in this book, to present a comprehensive,

current, and up-to-date survey of professional research, practice, and trends in the

education of people with special needs. We believe that this can be done without

sacrificing a "human" perspective, and have thus again incorporated into each chapter

several special features, our "Focus" inserts. Tilese inserts present firs~and stories of

exceptional individuals, parents, or teachers, or focus on attitudes, practical strategies,

or innovative programs. We think you will find that they add a useful and inviting

dimension to the study of special education.