Working With Parents and Families of Exceptional Children and Youth: Techniques for Successful Conferencing and Collaboration

Designed for undergraduate and graduate students, Simpson (special education, U. of Kansas) and Mundschenk's (educational psychology and special education, Southern Illinois U.) updated text examines how educators and related service personnel can work collaboratively with parents and families of children and youth with exceptionalities to properly identify and serve their needs. Coverage includes an overview of the historical and changing nature of the family, accommodating diversity, basic skills and strategies for successful conferencing and collaboration, trust development in the family-professional relationship, initial contact and information exchange conferences, parents as treatment and intervention agents, progress monitoring conferences, handling unscheduled conferences, conflict resolution, and addressing the issues and needs of families across the years, from those with young children, through elementary-age to youth and young adults. Specific revisions from the third to fourth edition are not stated. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)