Special Education for Young Learners with Disabilities: An Introduction

Abstract

The field of special education has come a long way with regard to providing services for young children with disabilities; but, more investigative research is needed. From the very beginning, young children with disabilities were not served in our public schools. This created turmoil for families and parents, and advocacy groups then got involved to spearhead the development of federal laws to support these young children. Through these federal laws and with the help of teachers, researchers, and other key professionals, young children with disabilities were more openly identified, assessments were created and evaluated, and interventions for their success were created and measured. Family-centered services were created so that parents could be involved with the development of their children. In the same vein, evidence-based practices were developed and enacted. Another area that has helped these children is assistive technology with a focus on literacy, communication, and other educational areas. While the field of special education has come a long way, there is more to do. This chapter and volume highlight what has been done and what can be done to enhance the education of young children with an array of disabilities.

Citation

Bakken, J.P. (2019), "Special Education for Young Learners with Disabilities: An Introduction", Special Education for Young Learners with Disabilities (Advances in Special Education, Vol. 34), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0270-401320190000034001