What is an IDEA 2004 Update Edition?  Human Exceptionality has been updated to reflect this long-anticipated legislation in two ways:

• Relevant discussion throughout the book has been revised to reflect IDEA ‘04.  These revisions have been made while still preserving the original pagination of the text, so no changes to lecture notes or reading assignments are necessary, and all supplementary materials (and page references therein) remain accurate. An “IDEA 2004” icon appears in the margins adjacent to the updates.
• A Guide to IDEA 2004 has been included as an appendix in the Update Edition. This clear, comprehensive, jargon-free appendix gives a brief side-by-side comparison of IDEA ’04 versus the previous ’97 legislation for each of the statutes, and, when a little friendly “background” would help the reader better understand the practical implications of the law, an additional note is provided.

 The Eighth Edition of Human Exceptionality continues to provide a complete, accessible introduction to teaching, interacting, and living with individuals with exceptionalities across the lifespan, with an increased attention to "teaching."

After a detailed introduction to the foundations of exceptionality, featuring completely revised and expanded chapters about exceptionality and education, the second half of Human Exceptionality focuses on definitions, classifications, prevalence, causation, and characteristics for the major categories of exceptionality. The discussion of each category concludes with practical educational, medical, and social services aspects of working with people with exceptionalities. Up-to-date research informs discussions that are intelligent and interesting. Detailed, personal stories about people with exceptionalities, along with features that help students study and apply material in each chapter, create this book's unique human approach.

This text is appropriate for preservice and practicing teachers interested in additional certification, as well as anyone planning to work with persons with exceptionalities in other human services contexts, such as psychology, social work, allied health, and counseling.