What key issues and challenges affect the lives of people with severe disabilities today - and what should tomorrow’s professionals do to address them? Aligned with the core values and agenda of TASH, this visionary text prepares professionals to strengthen supports and services for people with disabilities across the lifespan. Readers will fully examine more than a dozen critical topics in the lives of people with severe disabilities; explore necessary reforms to policy and practice; and set clear goals and priorities for improving early intervention, education, health care, behaviour supports, and social services. Whether used as a textbook or a professional reference, this innovative volume will help usher in a new era of services that support full inclusion and quality of life for people with severe disabilities.

Covers Today's Most Critical Topics:

Addressing inequities in our educational and social services system
Designing and delivering effective early intervention and education
Expanding and improving inclusive education
Supporting families of children with severe disabilities
Resolving challenges to person-centered planning and self-determination
Providing effective and respectful positive behaviour supports
Improving access to the general curriculum
Delivering effective literacy instruction to students with severe disabilities
Removing barriers to friendships and social relationships
Supporting students with health care needs in general education classrooms
Promoting access to postsecondary education, employment, and community life
Providing appropriate medical and social services to elderly individuals with severe disabilities

Online Companion Materials: This book comes with online PowerPoint slides for faculty, ideal for complementing and enhancing lessons.

Volume editor: Diane Lea Ryndak