Teaching Students with Severe Disabilities (4th Edition)

Written in a way that makes the most complex findings of research understandable and usable in the real educational world, this book offers comprehensive coverage of all of the issues that are pertinent to teaching students with severe disabilities. The authors clearly and completely address both methodology and curriculum, presenting topics in the order in which a teacher would approach them: prior considerations, planning and assessment, general instructional procedures, and, finally, procedures targeted to learners with specific disabling conditions. In addition, they pay thoughtful attention to assessment, the role of paraprofessionals, and multicultural concerns. For teachers and future teachers of students with severe/multiple disabilities.

Drs Westling and Fox outline in each chapter another area you will encounter in educating students with severe disabilities.

Unlike some textbooks this book is not overly weighted with jargon,or written to a level that requires expert knowledge of the field to decipher it.Yet it can stand by itself as an introduction to your student population.

Until you actually student teach, such as I have, this will be your best source for understanding your students and their needs.


A Great Introduction to the Subject....   August 13, 2003
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

As books intended to be textbooks go, this book by Westling and Fox covers the material without subjecting the reader to terminology which it does not explain.

It is broken up into well organized chapters, and reads well (meaning even a working professional can cover a chapter at a time without the book making them tired). It is not written in technical venacular, but in common sense terms most people interested in the subject can understand.

Unlike other books written in the field of special education it does not presume experience working with the children in question nor insult your intelligence if you are.

Most students should read this book before attempting any real fieldwork in the area of students with severe disabilities ( instead of as a textbook for a final class before student teaching as was my situation). It will give you a clearer view of the types of students you will be working with, and some of the ways to deal with them.