Contemporary and stimulating, Looking into Special Education provides an engaging overview of the key areas of special education, with each chapter providing valuable insight into the nature and practice of special education today. Aiding understanding and acting as a framework for further study, thought and practice, this innovative new book concerns a wide range of disabilities and disorders and is international in scope. Chapters discuss: The historical dimensions of special education How to engage with the structural frameworks (legal and definitional issues) of special education today The philosophical foundations of special education, including positivism Criticisms of special education and a consideration of future trends The fundamentals of evidence-based practice and how professional judgement is used The benefits of multi-professional collaboration Organisational issues of mainstreaming and special schooling. Including further reading material and ‘concluding thinking points’ at the end of each thought-provoking chapter, Looking into Special Education will be of particular use to professionals and students of special education and related fields looking to enrich their understanding and practice.