Exceptional Lives: Special Education in Today's Schools

by Ann P. Turnbull, H. Rutherford Turnbull, Michael L. Wehmeyer

Through real-life stories of children and their families, Exceptional Lives provides teachers with a comprehensive experience in special education. Long noted for their focus on inclusion, families, and partnerships, the authors present a realistic look at the workings of special education as future teachers, both general and special educators, will need to know it. Focused on real students with special needs, this book offers strategies and interventions based upon 5 core envisioning high expectations, enhancing positive contributions, building on strengths, acting on choices, expanding relationships, and ensuring full citizenship. General K-12 Inservice Teachers and Special Educators.

Genres: Education, Textbooks, School, Teaching, Collections, Nonfiction, Professional Development

491 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1994

About the author

Ann Turnbull is the Marianna and Ross Beach Distinguished Professor Emerita in Special Education, at University of Kansas.

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great introduction to special education and the students effected by various special needs. While this book left me wondering after more practical support of students in the classroom, it did provide a broad overview of the topic as well as many resources to further investigate solutions and strategies when working with specific students. Very easy to read, each chapter followed the same outline formula when discussing categories of needs, and there was brief mention to IEP development for each student. Overall, a solid text and great introduction to this field of study.

It was not listed on Goodreads, but I studied out of the 7th edition of this book.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an assigned text for a class that I withdrew from several weeks into the semester. However, being the book-nerd that I am, I continued reading it and found it on a whole to be informative, coherent and well-written, despite the overly "touchy-feely" aspects to the formatting. Great information about the history of disability recognition in America, disability law, and the particulars of living and learning with disabilities... The text is formatted to include lots of pictures and is easy to read.

[Rinjaminbutton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall this text has good information and anecdotes that will be helpful to teachers in best helping students with special needs both in general education and special education classrooms. Some of the writing felt unnecessarily repetitive and there is an air of social justice warriorism which I don't like and must be taken with a grain of salt and much discernment; but it pretty well covers the bases of students with disabilities and ways to respond to them, and in that there is much fruit.

[Nicole King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informational!

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, required reading, but actually interesting at times. Very dry most of the time though. The real life scenarios were a nice touch.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

HAHAHA READ FOR THIS CLASS BUT IT COUNTS😘

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this book for a class. I loved it. I felt like I learned so much from this and felt better prepared for when I started teaching Special Ed. I also loved the examples the book gave and how it felt like I was reading personal experiences and giving me so much insight to my new career field.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the assigned textbook for the special education survey course I took in the fall. I found it to be an enjoyable read with lots of helpful information. Each chapter covers a different disability with a description of the disability, legal information and appropriate educational interventions. This is one book that I will not be selling. It is a great resource for someone venturing into the world of special education.

[Valerie Zink · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, I read the whole thing. Every chapter was assigned for a class. It was okay, but it was a very broad overview of special education that in my opinion got too "medical" in its descriptions at time. The pattern of how each chapter was set up got to be boring as well. But overall, the reference list in the back is great and I did learn a lot from this book.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for a special ed class. I don't plan on ever giving this one away as long as I'm teaching. It goes into great detail all aspects of special ed and how to best teach. The case studies are amazing examples.

[Dr. Fitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this is a great book for teachers. Lots of great suggestions for teaching and accommodating student needs.
As a text book it develops empathy and understanding with voices of students with learning needs and/or their families.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has a lot of good information on understanding disabilities and inclusion.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to working with children with disabilities.

[Jennifer Birge · Rating 3 out of 5]

so so

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Breaks down each individual disability. Definitely a good text book, doesn't read like a manual.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to work in special ed, read this book. If you want to be a teacher, read this book. Oh, just read it already.

[Katkemm kemm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great updated information for every area of disability. I highly recommend.

[Yarel Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely keeping as a resource

[Simon]

For a class and I would not recommend reading.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for my graduate level Special Education class...was well-written, and breaks complex topics down in ways that are easy to understand. Lots of visuals and examples as well.

[Nicole King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

For what it is—a textbook—it’s not bad. I definitely like this version better than the previous one.

[Evienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Textbook for school and a really well done overview of special education. I really appreciated the focus on intersectionality and dignity.

[Glenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good for helping students with disabilities, but only one chapter was devoted to gifted ed.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

great resource for anyone going into education