What's So Special About Special Education is a short, practical, realistic guide for teachers in special education-particularly those working with children with severe disabilities-to more effectively communicate with classroom parents. It is written from the perspective of a veteran special education teacher and mother of a child with severe disabilities, who often mentored new teachers seeking advice about how to deal with their student's parents. The book offers teachers information about how to communicate with parents and form a partnership that will make the classroom experience more effective and the teacher's job easier. It covers things every special ed teacher needs to know to succeed in this challenging field, and offers a view from both sides of the IEP. This information is often not taught in teacher training courses, but it is essential for teachers struggling with the many facets of their students' disabilities. Parents and other school professionals will benefit from this book, and may find it helpful to give it to their students' teachers. It is a useful handbook for in-service or for reading before IEPs and the beginning of every school year.
About the Author: Susan McBrine worked for 37 years as an educator in California, as a secondary English teacher, a special education teacher, and a mentor to new teachers. She received her BA and secondary English credential from UC Davis and got her special Ed specialist credential in moderate to severe disabilities from San Diego State University. She is the co founder of the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance, a national medical research and support organization for those with tuberous sclerosis complex, and is a board member for Del Sol School for children with behavioral challenges. She is the mother of four adult children, one of whom had severe disabilities from tuberous sclerosis and autism. She has volunteered and trained volunteers in Special Olympics and Girl Scouts Disability Awareness, has worked as a day camp director for children with disabilities, led a sibling in-service for siblings of special ed students, and designed a peer tutor program for high school students to work with students with disabilities. She served on the California Teachers association state council, and its special Ed committee and county office of Ed caucus, and served as CTA president. She happily lives with her husband, Steve, on the Oregon coast. Between them they have twelve granchildren.