A reference work that presents a chronology focusing on special education, its development, and the important issues that both positively and negatively affect the field. Updated through current events, this second edition provides an excellent introduction to special education in all of its practical aspects--how it developed, its curriculum, assessment issues, the law, and advocacy. This book offers a comprehensive introduction to special education, the broad number of disciplines that inform it, how it has evolved, and provides a context for understanding the current challenges and controversies surrounding the issue. It focuses on contemporary research regarding such issues as cognitive development, multiple intelligences, and different learning styles. This second edition provides: a useful directory of organizations, associations and government agencies relating to all aspects of special education; an updated chronology of events in the evolution the concept of special education; a new Primary Documents section; an easy-to-use bibliography; and a cumulative index. The comprehensive coverage of this important topic will make this resource a must-have for all public, university and high school libraries, in addition to the reference collection of university education departments and school districts.