Special Needs, Different Abilities

With the current explosion of children being born with various special needs, especially on the autism spectrum, it becomes imperative that educators seek ways in which they can best meet the educational needs of these children, and all those they educate, so they can reach their potential. Educators, over the past decade, differentiated the curricula by adapting and adopting new ways of teaching the students they serve. However, there have not necessarily been real workbooks for educators to reference and use. -- Eve Dieringer, PhD, field placement director, Molloy College's Division of Education Dr. Schiering's interactive new book acknowledges neurodiversity as a form of human diversity to be embraced! The acceptance of every learners' unique set of strengths and needs propels the educator to developing instruction that is creative and caters to each person's learning process. This book advocates for acceptance and evoking in each learner the idea, 'I am enough'. A wonderful contribution to the field. -- Diana N. Abourafeh, MS, MT-BC, Board Certified Music Therapist at the Rebecca Center for Music Therapy at Molloy College Dr. Marjorie Schiering examines a most interesting, important, challenging issue in her latest book: The need to see students as individuals, with diverse talents and struggles. In her carefully-researched work, she pinpoints practical approaches the educator should consider to achieve the best learning, offers colleagues personal narratives and commentaries of how some have experienced different abilities and the books interactive approaches, and invites us to do likewise. A truly rewarding work! -- Robert Kinpoitner, PhD, chair of the English department, Molloy College As both an educator and parent of special needs children, I am well aware of how the world of special education can seem overwhelming. Different Abilities: Special Needs: Different Ways...An Interactive Workbook, is a vital tool for both educators and parents at all levels. It provides practical researched information, as well as that of veteran teachers. There are time-tested strategies and useful anecdotes to help teachers and parents navigate the often-confounding waters of special education, as well as different abilities students. For teachers, it offers first-rate techniques for making their classrooms most inclusive and welcoming for students of varied abilities. For parents, the anecdotes validate the struggles they go through to do what is best for their children and leaves them with this reminder: You are not alone. Truly, this book is an invaluable addition to any teacher or parent's library. -- Timothy Ryley, MS, Adjunct Professor: English Department at Molloy College; Baldwin High School English teacher This workbook demonstrates how and why alternative thinking is necessary when experiencing different abilities of students. It viably addresses a wide variety of circumstances encountered in teaching students with different abilities. It reminds us of how traditional methodologies oftentimes do not apply in special needs situations. Subsequently, applying differentiated instruction to meet the multi-variate needs of students must be explored until one is found. That is the essence of this author's messages for teaching thinking and addressing students' aptitudes. -- Andrew J. Smith, Ph.D., D.Sc., Retired adjunct professor at Mt. St. Mary College and secondary school teacher