The Special Educator's Guide to Assessment
A Comprehensive Overview by IDEA Disability Category
- Tara S. Guerriero - West Chester University, USA
- Mary A. Houser - West Chester University, USA
- Vicki A. McGinley - West Chester University, USA
Special education students often learn about the characteristics of disabilities, but can lack an understanding of the relationship between diagnostic assessment and eligibility for special education services. The Special Educator's Guide to Assessment: A Comprehensive Overview by IDEA Disability Category focuses on the role that assessment plays in the diagnosis of a disability, determination of eligibility for special education services, and education of students with disabilities to provide a meaningful interconnection between assessment concepts and classroom application for teachers. Authors Tara S. Guerriero, Mary A. Houser, and Vicki A. McGinley want to ensure that future special education teachers have the preparation to provide comprehensive instruction to P-12 students through this text.
While special education teachers are often not the ones conducting comprehensive evaluations, it is paramount that they understand their students’ individual characteristics, and understand how assessment is used to determine diagnosis and eligibility. Framing the text around The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) provides students with concrete standards by which all disabilities are evaluated and regulated in our public educational system.
Part I introduces the basic topics of assessment, ethics, and assessment types. Part II moves on to provide diagnostic and eligibility criteria according to IDEA categories that are most commonly diagnosed in an educational setting while Part III describes the criteria for IDEA categories most commonly diagnosed in a medical setting. Features like case studies and sample comprehensive evaluations help bring to life assessment and how it applies in real classrooms.
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“I like the idea of various disabilities being addressed and the way the authors have laid that aspect out.”
“A chapter on each disability, focused on assessment. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a textbook with that focus.”
“I’m glad to see a chapter devoted to multiple disabilities.”
“A comprehensive and valuable guide to assessments for each category of disability.”
“The authors have thought through the complexity of assessment. The backgrounds of the authors do suggest that they have brought their vested years of experience and knowledge to this project....I do like the focus on a disability determination approach. This organization supports the concept of providing thorough assessments in all areas of a suspected disability and would most likely dispel the idea that an assessment for special education determination is not a cookie-cutter approach.”
“This textbook is a comprehensive resource covering multiple practical aspects regarding student assessment and identification. The text explores IDEA disability categories against the backdrop of assessment and student needs. It will help teachers and assessment personnel understand the current federal law(s) regarding special education assessment and identification.”
“I would describe it as somewhat of a cross between an introductory survey of exceptionalities book (because of its emphasis on the characteristics of specific disability groups) and a book on assessment for eligibility.”
“I would certainly need to see the completed text but based on the Table of Contents I believe the book addresses some important areas that seem to covered somewhat perfunctorily in other texts-disabilities in the context of assessment is one major area of strength as is making connections between diagnosis and instruction.”
“It is an excellent example of how a text should be written and organized.”
“The Special Educator's Guide to Assessment presents a clear, easy to follow recipe for comprehension of a complicated area in teacher education for special educators. Explanations of concepts are applied in scenarios and with clear language.”
Sample Materials & Chapters
Chapter 1: Introduction to Special Education...
Chapter 2: Introduction to Assessment...
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