Gripping, raw, and beautiful, this book reveals the struggles and rewards of caring for a child with severe disability and helps professionals work more sensitively and effectively with families of children with special needs. Written with grace and candor by special education professional Beth Harry, the book chronicles the life of her daughter, Melanie, who was born with a rare form of cerebral palsy and died less than 6 years later. 
Captivating the reader from page one, Dr. Harry illuminates the full spectrum of her parenting experiences—from the day her "little bird" came into the world to the day she left. Readers will come away with a deep understanding of 
<ul>
<li>the complex emotions that parents experience as they adjust to life with a child who has special needs</li>
<li>the practical and emotional aspects of supporting a child with feeding difficulties, vision impairment, and limited motor skills</li>
<li>the joy parents experience when their child begins to communicate and make personal connections</li>
<li>the lasting impact a professional's words can have on a parent, and the need to provide positive support that allows a child to reach her full potential</li>
<li>the services, therapies, and interventions that improved Melanie's quality of life-and how they've changed since her story began in the 1970s</li>
</ul>
Ideal for use as a supplemental text in courses for preservice early interventionists, early childhood special educators, special educators, and health professionals, this book gives readers an unforgettable inside look at what families experience when their child has a disability—and how to meet their needs as their child grows. And, a Reader's Guide is included! Perfect for use in the classroom or in book clubs, the thought-provoking discussion questions help professionals absorb the book's lessons and apply them to everyday practice with families. 
Eye-opening and inspiring, Melanie, Bird with a Broken Wing will leave a lasting impression and will, as Dr. Harry urges, prepare readers "to believe the messages of their hearts as they make professional decisions."

Melanie, Bird with a Broken Wing: A Mother's Story

Biographies & Memoirs

Harry Ph.D., Beth

Community & Culture

Brookes Publishing

To succeed in increasingly diverse classrooms, tomorrow's special educators need explicit training on working effectively with all families. Prepare the next generation of teachers with this accessible text, developed by two highly respected experts on cultural and linguistic diversity and inclusive education.
 Ideal for use as a supplementary textbook in a wide range of courses related to special education, this book gives educators a practical framework for cultural reciprocity—a process that helps professionals and families examine their own values, respect each other's differences, and collaborate skillfully to benefit children. Educators will learn how to <ul>
<li>
strengthen awareness of their own cultural identities and roles</li>
 <li>
explore how their values and beliefs might affect interactions with families</li>
 <li>
sidestep stereotypes by treating each family and situation as unique</li>
 <li>
ensure successful IEP meetings through effective cross-cultural communication</li>
 <li>
avoid "right versus wrong" assumptions about parenting styles and practices</li>
 <li>understand how diverse families might view key special education goals—independence, individuality, and work</li>
 <li>
combine ideas from different value systems to arrive at solutions that work for everyone</li>
 <li>
challenge the ways in which mainstream culture shapes special education policies and practices</li>
</ul>
 The authors draw on their own experiences and research to describe applications of cultural reciprocity, including reader-friendly textboxes and memorable personal anecdotes.
 To give special educators a deeper, more nuanced understanding of cultural reciprocity, the text also includes three chapter-long case studies that further illustrate the process at work. Readers will learn from the challenges and successes of an African American researcher working with a group of teenage mothers; two teacher educators collaborating on the Special Educators Entering a Diverse Society (SEEDS) project; and an Asian Indian teacher educator leading a class of mostly Caucasian students.
 A key text for future special educators—and a valuable resource for inservice training—this book will help teachers build strong collaborative relationships with diverse families and ensure that all children receive the best possible education.

Cultural Reciprocity in Special Education: Building Family?Professional Relationships

Education & Teaching

Kalyanpur Ph.D., Maya

Schools & Teaching

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