This volume presents current controversial issues surrounding special education in a debate-style format designed to stimulate student interest and develop critical thinking skills. Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Common special needs include challenges with learning, communication challenges, emotional and behavioral disorders, physical disabilities, and developmental disorders. This topic is framed with a general summary and introduction, and a postscript or challenge questions. This work features an annotated listing of selected World Wide Web sites and an online instructor's resource guide with testing material available. This book includes 20 issues, addressing active debates in the field, introducing questions of social policy and practice as it pertains to special education. This work also highlights perspectives on educational expectations and outcomes and presents critical considerations about atypical learners and the treatments suggested for their benefit.