Assisting Students With Disabilities: What School Counselors Can and Must Do

"This is one book I will buy for counselors in my school this year. It clearly addresses legal concerns in regard to students with disabilities without losing its focus on children."
Kareen Skillestad-Bangert, Wyoming′s National Distinguished Principal ― 1998

Here′s a quick-to-read, user-friendly reference handbook for every school counselor. Assisting Students With Disabilities offers counselors the tools to provide effective support and intervention for students with disabilities. The book describes a comprehensive assessment model called TREAT, an individually focused approach that draws information and interpretation from every available resource. Each chapter contains at least one case study to help counselors learn to apply the ideas in the book to real school situations.

Counselors will learn how to:

• Meet federal regulations and guidelines regarding students with disabilities
• Assess students for special education services eligibility
• Identify and carry out counseling goals for students with disabilities
• Work effectively with students′ families
• Make a real difference in the lives of the students they serve

This book is designed for school counselors who want to better understand and carry out their responsibilities to every student, and for school leaders who want all students to get the counseling help that fits their needs.

Julie P. Baumberger is an associate professor at the Ross School of Medicine (Dominica, West Indies), where she has a joint appointment in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and the Counseling Center. She also teaches for Capella University in the Harold Abel School of Psychology. As a licensed professional counselor, psychological examiner, and school counselor, Dr. Baumberger worked for many years as a school counselor in both elementary and secondary schools. She later maintained a private practice counseling children, youth, and adults. Her current research and scholarly interests include youth and adults with disabilities, school counselor preparation, and mental health issues of young adults pursuing medical education.

Ruth E. Harper is Professor of Counseling and Human Resource Development at South Dakota State University, where she coordinates the college student personnel track. Harper has been a counselor and administrator at the postsecondary level for many years. Harper’s research and writing focuses on college student mental health issues, American Indian college students, and career counseling.