Front Cover -- Special Education International Perspectives: Practices Across the Globe -- Copyright page -- Contents -- List of Contributors -- Preface -- Part I: North and Central America -- Special Education Today in the United States of America -- Origins -- Prevalence -- Trends in Legislation and Litigation -- Prominent Educational Interventions -- Work with Families -- Teacher Training -- Progress -- Challenges -- References -- Special Education Today in Canada -- Introduction -- Origins -- Disability Prevalence and Incidence Rates -- Legislative and Legal Trends in Canadian Special Education -- Prominent Educational Interventions -- Teacher Education -- Ongoing Challenges -- Conclusion -- References -- Special Education Today in Mexico -- Introduction -- Origins of Special Education -- Classification of Disability -- Prevalence -- Legislation and Public Policy -- Special Education Intervention Models -- Family Participation -- Teacher Training -- Mexico's Special Education: Progress Attained -- Challenges Facing Inclusive Education in Mexico -- Conclusion -- References -- Special Education Today in Guatemala -- Introduction -- Definition of Disability -- Disability Law -- History of Special Education -- Conceptions of Disability in Guatemala -- Legislation on Disability and Role of Government -- Overview of Special Education -- Working with Families of Special Needs Students -- Philosophical Principles for Individuals with Special Needs -- School Environments -- Teacher Training -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- Part II: Europe -- Special Education Today in the United Kingdom -- Introduction -- Section 1: The United Kingdom: An Introduction -- Section 2: Special Educational Needs -- Section 3: Selected Contemporary Issues and Challenges for Inclusive Teacher Education -- Notes -- References -- Special Education Today in Spain.

Introduction -- Origin of Special Education in Spain -- Overview of Spain's Educational System Including Special Needs Education -- Assessment of Students for Special Educational Needs -- Provision, Supports, and Educational Interventions -- Teacher Education for Special and Inclusive Education -- Family and Parent Involvement -- Future Trends and Challenges -- Conclusion -- References -- Special Education Today in Norway -- Introduction -- A Few Historical Facts about Norway -- Origins of Education -- The Rise of Special Education in Norway -- Working with Families -- Special Education in Norway Today -- Future Challenges: The Efficacy of Special Education -- References -- Special Education Today in Sweden -- Introduction -- The Swedish Educational System: The General Context -- The Special Educational Structure -- The History of Special Education and Special Education Services -- Special Education Research and Knowledge Construction -- Conclusion -- References -- Special Education Today in Switzerland -- Introduction -- Developments in Legislation: From Benefits to Rights -- Who has a Disability or Special Educational Needs? -- Prevalence Data -- The Influence of a Strong Private Service Sector on Special Education -- The Scientific Study of Special Education -- Training of Teachers and Professionals in Special Education -- Special Education Today and Future Challenges -- Notes -- References -- Special Education Today in Iceland -- Introduction -- Education in Iceland -- Special Education in Iceland -- Research on Special Education in Iceland -- Origins and History of Special Education in Iceland -- Legal Trends, Litigation and the Financing of Special Education -- The Children: Prevalence and Incidence of Impairment -- Educational Provision and Teacher Education for Special Needs -- Teacher Education -- Working with Families.

Issues and Challenges -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Special Education Today in Ukraine -- Introduction -- Early Origins of Special Education -- Prevalence and School Placements -- The Impact of Legislation for Free Public Education -- Movement into Inclusive Education -- Challenges to Inclusive Education -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Acknowledgment -- References -- Special Education Today in Russia -- History of the Establishment of Special Education in Russia -- Prevalence of Students with Disabilities -- Current System of Special Education in Russia -- Inclusion and Students with Disabilities in Russia -- Current Issues and Individuals with Disabilities -- Working with the Family -- Conclusion -- References -- Part III: Africa -- Special Education Today in Nigeria -- Development of Special Education in Nigeria -- Prevalence and Incidence of Disabilities in Nigeria -- Nigeria's National Policy on Education -- Future Perspectives -- Conclusion -- References -- Special Education Today in South Africa -- Introduction -- Origins of Special Education in South Africa from its Colonial and Racist Past to a Democratic Society -- Phase One: Absence of Provision (1700s-1800s) -- Phase Two: White-dominated Provision, and the Important Role of the Church (from Late 1800s-1963) -- Phase Three: 'Separate Development' and its Impact on Special Education and Education Support Services (1963-1994) -- Phase Four: Developments in the New Democracy -- from Special Needs Education to Inclusive Education -- Educational Interventions (Policy, Standards, Research) -- Prevalence and Incident Aspects -- Trends in Legislation and Litigation -- Working with Families -- Teachers and Special Education (Roles, Expectations, Training) -- Perspective on the Progress of Special Education -- Challenges that Remain -- Conclusion -- References.

Special Education Today in Ghana -- Introduction -- Origins of Special Education in Ghana -- Prevalence and Incidence of Disability and Special Needs -- Trends in Legislation and Policy -- Educational Interventions: Policy and Standards -- Working with Families -- Teachers and Special Education: Roles, Expectations and Training -- Perspective on the Progress of Special Education in Ghana -- Challenges of Special Education in Ghana -- Conclusions -- References -- Part IV: The Middle East -- Special Education Today in Israel -- Special Education in Israel -- Educational Policy in Israel -- Changes in Rates of Disabilities -- Case Study: Changes in Prevalence of Students Diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder -- Prominent Educational Interventions -- Educational Plan in Segregated Schools -- Response to Intervention -- The Inclusion Plan -- Interventions for Mainstreaming Students -- Teacher Training -- A New Framework for Teacher Training -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- Special Education Today in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia -- Introduction -- Origins and Attitudes -- Prevalence and Incident Rates -- Trends in Legislation and Litigation -- Prominent Educational Intervention -- Preparation of Special Education Personnel -- Progress of Special Education Services in Saudi Arabia -- References -- Special Education Today in Turkey -- Introduction -- Origins of Special Education -- Prevalence and Incident of Students with Special Needs -- Trends in Laws and Regulations in Turkey -- Educational Interventions in Turkey -- Working with Families of Individuals with Disabilities in Turkey -- Teachers Training in Special Education -- Perspective on the Progress of Special Education -- Special Education Challenges -- References -- Part V: South Asia -- Special Education Today in India -- Introduction -- Origins of Special Education.

Prevalence of Disability in India -- Government's Efforts in Providing Services -- Promoting Inclusive Education in India -- Current Challenges for Inclusive Education in India -- Working with Families of Children with Disabilities in India -- Teacher Preparation -- Conclusion -- References -- Special Education Today in Bangladesh -- Introduction -- Origin of Special Education in Bangladesh -- Definition of Disability -- Types of Disability -- Prevalence of Disability -- Policy and Legislation -- Educational Interventions -- Educational Facilities Provided by Local NGOs -- Use of Technology for Students with Disabilities -- Early Intervention Programs -- Working with Families -- Strategies used in Government to Work with Families -- Strategies Employed by NGOs to Work with Families -- Teacher Training -- Government's Arrangement for Teacher Training -- Teacher Education Institute at University Level -- Progress of Special Education -- Educating Students with Disabilities -- Teacher Training -- Quality of Life -- Employment Training -- Funding from the Government -- Challenges to the Education for Children with Disabilities -- Concluding Remarks -- References -- Part VI: Australasia -- Special Education Today in Australia -- Understanding the Context -- History of Special Education in Australia -- Trends in Legislation, Litigation, and Policy Development in Australia -- State Policies on Education of Children with Disabilities -- Working with Parents -- Prevalence and Incidence of Students with Disabilities in Australia -- Teacher Education and Special Education -- Challenges and New Initiatives -- Conclusion -- References -- Special Education Today in New Zealand -- Introduction -- Challenges for the Future -- References -- Part VII: Far East -- Special Education Today in China -- Introduction.

Early Inception of China's Special Education and Its Development.