Mental Retardation: Historical Perspectives, Current Practices, And Future Directions

Gives an overview of mental retardation for those planning to work with students with MR in a school setting. MR, mental retardation, moderate disabilities, developmental delay. appropriate for undergraduate and graduate courses in Introduction to Mental Retardation and Theories and Characteristics of Mental Retardation taught in departments of Special Education.

Reviewer Praise for Mental Retardation: Historical Perspectives, Current Practices and Future Directions...

?This will prove helpful to students who are training to be teachers as it will give them something concrete and meaningful to which to attach their own learning ... very useful is the bridge that is drawn between educational theory and the field of mental retardation.?
Professor E. Amanda Boutot, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

?It is clear, accurate, and presents the major issues in the field of mental retardation. They present current and historical events that make this book interesting and fresh.?
Professor Harold C. Griffin, East Carolina University

This exciting new text provides thorough coverage of the causes and characteristics of mental retardation as well as detailed discussion of the validated instructional approaches in the field today. Some features include...

• Historical Evolution of the Field. Chapter 1 discusses the history of the field, while recurring ?Events That Made a Difference? features highlight major formative events in the field.
• Teaching Applications. Chapters 9 thru 12 present the strongest coverage available in any introductory text on instructional issues and applications for teaching students with mental retardation.
• ?Research That Made a Difference? features throughout the text provide students with valuable insight into research-based practices that have made an impact on the field of mental retardation.
• Unique Chapter 13, ?Future Issues,? presents interviews with leading experts in the field and with a young woman with mental retardation, exploring the legal, medical, educational, and personal issues people with mental retardation face.

Additional Quotes

E. Amanda Boutot, UNLV
?The examples are relevant and meaningful for students. Very useful is the bridge that is drawn between educational theory and the field of mental retardation.?

?This will prove helpful to students who are training to be teachers as it will give them something concrete and meaningful to which to attach their own learning.?

?I especially find the sections on legal issues in MR most interesting and very well done; this is something that is often overlooked in introductory texts and will be found to be very useful to my students.?

Emma Martin, University of Oregon
?Writing styles is clear, concise and easy to follow. Examples provided are helpful in extending understanding and meaning.?

?Interviews are an effective means of sharing information currently within the field! Questions and responses provide a wealth of information and insight to the topic.?

Harold C. Criffin, East Carolina University
?The chapters are clearly and completely developed.?

?They present current and historical events that make this book interesting and fresh.?

?Various tables help to summarize information presented in the text and make it easier to understand for a student just entering the field of mental retardation.?

?The authors have a very clear writing style. It is easily understood by the reader. The level and tone of the writing is appropriate for both graduate and undergraduate students.?

?I like the aspects of interviews with people in the field, research and people that made a difference, and the fact that concepts are introduced at the beginning of each chapter.?

?The examples show students contributions from previous special education leaders and research methodology the past as well as narratives that comment on present and future issues.?