Kids in the Middle

Marshall Strax, an advocate for people with disabilities, is a professor of education at the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown, NJ. His interests include the intersection of disabilities studies and special education, the politics of special education, and higher education and disability. Carol Strax is an associate professor of education at Dominican College in Orangeburg, New York. A qualitative researcher, her interests include inclusive education, the use of service dogs with people with disabilities, and children’s literature. Bruce S. Cooper, Ph.D., is professor of education leadership and policy at the Fordham University Graduate School of Education in New York City, and the former president of the Politics of Education Association. His interests focus on school politics, finance, and unionization. Cooper recently published a book with Sharon Conley, Keeping and Improving Today's School Leaders: Retaining and Sustaining the Best, that examines the process of preparing, encouraging, and retaining quality leaders at the school and district levels.

Contributors

Foreword

Preface

Part I Politics of the Past: From Segregation to Integration

Chapter 1:Borderline: The Political Divide in Special Education
Marshall Strax, College of Saint Elizabeth

Chapter 2: Schooling Tommy in the Past: A Personal Perspective
Thomas E. Strax, UMDNJ-RWJ Medical School
Lisa Luciano, UMDNJ-RWJ Medical School
Anna Dunn, UMDNJ-RWJ Medical School

Chapter 3:Free At Last? Legislation for Children with Disabilities
Allan Osborne, Retired Principal, Snug Harbor Community School
Charles Russo, University of Dayton

Part II Politics of the Present: Law and Finance

Chapter 4:The Limits of Freedom: Legislation and Litigation in Special Education
Charles Russo, University of Dayton
Allan Osborne, Retired Principal, Snug Harbor Community School

Chapter 5: The Costs and Benefits of Special Education
Bruce S. Cooper, Fordham University

Chapter 6:Kid in the Middle: A Case Study of an Impartial Hearing
Carol Strax, Dominican College
Marshall Strax, College of Saint Elizabeth

Part III Politics of the Present: Reality on the Ground

Chapter 7: Common Confusions with Inclusion
David Connor, Hunter College

Chapter 8: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pay: Services for Children with Severe and Chronic Disabilities
Arnold Danzig, Arizona State University

Chapter 9: Schooling Tommy in the Present
Catherine Hall Rikhye, Retired Director, Office of Inclusive Education

Part IV Politics of the Future

Chapter 10:Voices From the Field: Students Speak Out
Carol Strax, Dominican College

Chapter 11:Voices From the Field: Parents Speak Out
Carol Strax, Dominican College

Chapter 12:Voices From the Field: Education Professionals
Carol Strax, Dominican College

Chapter 13:Schooling Tommy in the Future: The Ideal
Marshall Strax, College of Saint Elizabeth