Essentials

Pamela Brillante, EdD, is assistant professor of special education at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey. She does consulting and is a former special education teacher and administrator.

As a professional development provider, I’ve been waiting for a book like this! The perfect blend of special education law, details about specific disabilities, and practical classroom strategies—it’s rare to find all this information in a single, easy to read format. This book will be recommended reading for all early childhood teachers in our network.—Monica Lesperance, Deputy Director, The DC Special Education CooperativeEven though I have worked in inclusive settings for most of my 40 years as an educator, Pam Brillante’s engaging book both reinforced my foundation of knowledge and presented new information. Whether reading this as a prospective teacher or an experienced one, effective educators will return to this text again and again.—Ellen Frede, Principal Consultant, Building Effective Early Learning SystemsIn this practical and illuminating book, Brillante explains the signs of a disability and ready-to-use strategies for including a child with that disability in simple, understandable terms. Better yet, she makes a strong case for the importance of an inclusive education. This book should be part of every teacher’s reference library.—Liz Koenig, Teacher, Bridges Public Charter SchoolBrillante’s must-read book skillfully humanizes children with disabilities through real-life examples and people-first language. Her teacher-centered vignettes validate the myriad challenges educators face, which she then tackles with easy-to-understand explanations and strategies.—Krista K. Gauthier, Executive Director, Sliding Doors STEM & Dyslexia Learning CenterA great resource for early childhood educators and preservice teachers who work or will work with young children who have developmental delays or disabilities in many different settings. The author provides explicit, practical guidelines that connect important theories to daily practice.—Yoon-Joo Lee, Associate Professor, Brooklyn College of the City University of New YorkA valuable resource for early childhood educators and preservice teachers who want to help every child learn regardless of individual learning challenges. Filled with advice, practical information, and proven strategies to help all young children with disabilities succeed.—Cynthia Simpson, Provost, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Professor of Education, Houston Baptist University

• About the BookDisabilities and Young ChildrenChapter 1: Different, Yet AlikeChapter 2: Identifying the Needs of Young Children with DisabilitiesChapter 3: Where to Start: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Inclusion, and Universal DesignChapter 4: Individualizing Supports and InterventionsChapter 5: Addressing Challenging BehaviorSpecific DisabilitiesChapter 6: Speech and Language ImpairmentsChapter 7: Autism Spectrum DisorderChapter 8: Visual and Hearing ImpairmentsChapter 9: Physical DisabilitiesChapter 10: Intellectual DisabilitiesChapter 11: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity DisorderChapter 12: Learning DisabilitiesConclusionGlossaryReferencesResourcesAcknowledgmentsAbout the Author