Driving Change in Special Education
By James J. Gallagher, Ph.D.

How has special education policy evolved over the years, and where should it go in the near future? One of the best known and most respected leaders in special education policy, Jim Gallagher, takes a candid and critical look at these questions in this informative book. Students, administrators, and policy makers will fully understand how four “engines of change"— legislation, court decisions, administrative decisions, and professional initiatives — direct decision making in education for children with special needs. Readers will discover the complex role these drivers play in

• determining eligibility and diagnostic criteria
  
  
• supporting differentiated instruction
  
  
• strengthening personnel preparation programs
  
  
• ensuring comprehensive educational planning for students with special needs
  
  
• making adaptations, accommodations, and assistive and instructional technology accessible to students
  
  
• supporting educational research
  
  
• funding special education programs

Case studies woven throughout the book reveal how specific legal issues and service delivery models impact the lives of five children with special needs — autism, learning disabilities, behavior disorders, and orthopedic disabilities, plus a child in a gifted education program. Looking ahead, Gallagher also shows the next generation of professionals three possible futures for special education and encourages administrators and policy makers to use these visions in shaping goals and working toward them. With this enlightening resource from one of the field’s most esteemed experts, readers will have a sophisticated understanding of special education and the insight needed to drive future change.

Decision Making in Special Education: How Are Decisions Made?


Finding Children with Special Needs: Eligibility


Differentiated Programs for Children with Disabilities


Personnel Preparation and Technical Assistance


Research and Evaluation


Finance and Data Systems


Educational Planning for Children with Special Needs


Technology and Children with Disabilities


The Education of Gifted Students


Outside Forces that Affect Decisions in Special Education


Some Alternative Futures for Special Education