Introduction to Special Education and Disability Studies

Based on philosophical and humanitarian considerations, all children are special. Every individual is unique. Children under normal circumstances have certain strengths and limitations. However, in a greater number of children, the strengths outstrip the weaknesses. In this book, attention has been focused on children whose strengths and limitations appear different from majority of children. The authors of this book refer to those children who in special education are known as exceptional children. These are individuals who have much difficulty reaching their maximum potentials or in some instance going over and above their potential. They are also children whose physical, intellectual, emotional or social performances fall below or rise above that of children of the same chronological age. These differences may be explained by physical, psychological, cognitive, emotional or social factors or the combination of a variety of factors.