Exceptional People: Lessons Learned from Special Education Survivors

(Paperback)

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Exceptional People: Lessons Learned from Special Education Survivors is a unique work that describes disabled (exceptional) students and their parents perspectives as they journeyed through the education system. For educators, it provides a window to the souls of the children whose lives they affect on a daily basis and offers proven strategies that can be implemented immediately. For students, it describes how they can successfully overcome the embarrassment of their special education label, the humiliation of being bullied by classmates, and the discomfort felt when called stupid or lazy by their teachers. For parents, it captures their pain when they first learned their child had a disability and the fight they faced as they attempted to advocate for their child (usually not knowing their legal rights, the correct questions to ask, or the organizations available to support them). An easy read with a powerful message, ExceptionalPeople conveys significant insights through its personal stories and professional tips.

Reviews

Dr. Andreasen has done a masterful job of telling the stories of several students who had varied experiences in school and special education programs. Their honesty about what did or did not work for them provides insight into how children who have disabilities are treated by their peers, teachers, doctors, and other professionals and how these people can profoundly impact their livesfor good or bad. Dr. Andreasen makes concrete suggestions for working effectively with students who have disabilities, as well as suggestions for the students themselves. Her goal is to ensure that the students are not lost in the bureaucracy of special education and that the humanity and dignity of these children are respected by those of us privileged to know and work with them. Exceptional People should be required reading for professionals, parents, and students; for only by becoming aware of injustice can it be avoided in the future. -- Sheila Breen JD, former director of the American International School in Vienna, Austria
Exceptional People is a true-to-life saga which clearly depicts the trials and tribulations students with exceptionalities face on an ongoing bases. Dr. Andreasen captures the sorrows, challenges, and successes that many students with exceptionalities, and their parents, experience throughout their school careers. -- Tom Gambino Ed.D, associate professor, Northcentral University

Author Bio

Dr. Faith Andreasen has over twenty years of educational experience teaching elementary through college level students. She is an alternative dispute resolution mediator and a former associate professor of research at Northcentral University. Andreasen has been published in several peer-reviewed journals.