Special Education in Contemporary Society An Introduction to Exceptionality Sixth Edition by Richard M. Gargiulo Emily C

2015 Recipient of the Textbook Excellence 
Award from the Text and Academic Authors Association (TAA)

The Sixth Edition of Richard Gargiulo’s well-respected Special 
Education in Contemporary Society: An Introduction to Exceptionality 
offers a comprehensive, engaging, and easy-to-read introduction 
to special education. Grounded in research and updated to reflect 
the most current thinking and standards of the field, the book provides 
students with the skills and knowledge to become successful teachers. 
Richard Gargiulo and new co-author Emily Bouck encourage a deep awareness 
and understanding of the human side of special education. Their book provides 
students a rare look into the lives of exceptional students and their families, 
as well as the teachers that work with exceptional persons throughout their lives. 

The new edition maintains the broad context and research focus 
for which the book is known, while expanding on current trends and 
contemporary issues to better serve both pre-service and in-service
 teachers of exceptional individuals. The text is organized into two 
distinct parts to offer students a truly comprehensive and humane understanding
 of exceptionality. In Part I, readers are provided strong foundational perspective
 on broad topics that affect all individuals with an exceptionality. In Part II, 
the authors engage students with thorough examinations of individual exceptionalities, 
and discuss historical, personal, and educational details of each exceptionality as it affects a person across the lifespan.