School Counselor′s Guide to Special Education

"Provides a wealth of specific information and resources that should be at the fingertips of every school counselor."
—Richard Hazler, Professor of Counselor Education, Penn State University
Author, Helping in the Hallways

The school counselor′s all-in-one reference for assisting students with special needs!

What is the school counselor′s role in the special education process? How can school counselors assist students with special needs? In this comprehensive and thorough guide, the authors answer these and other questions about best practices for meeting the academic, social, and career requirements of students with disabilities.

This hands-on guide clarifies the counselor′s role and provides a wealth of practical strategies for navigating special education processes, using available resources, and building effective teams. The authors examine special education procedures and present interventions for preschool, school-age, and transitioning students, provide study questions for reflection, and cover topics such as:

• Assessment and intervention, including RTI
• Behavioral and academic challenges associated with disabilities
• Collaboration with school and community personnel and medical specialists
• Disability categories
• Legal and ethical issues
• Individual and group counseling
• Special education terminology

Designed for busy school professionals, The School Counselor′s Guide to Special Education is an invaluable desk reference that will help counselors respond with confidence to a wide range of student and staff needs.

Barbara C. Trolley has spent over three decades working in the counseling field. Currently, she is a professor in counselor education at St. Bonaventure University, where she trains graduate students for careers in school and mental health counseling. As the chair of her university′s disability committee and coordinator of the autism training program, Trolley is committed to working with issues of diversity and youth. The lead author of books on school counseling and cyberbullying, as well as numerous professional articles in the area of rehabilitation and grief counseling, Trolley is the creator and editor of the New York State School Counseling Journal. She and her co-authors of Cyber Kids, Cyberbullying, Cyber Balance have spent the last four years conducting countless workshops and media presentations on cyberbullying at the local, stateb and national levels. Before coming to the academic world, she spent almost a decade working as a therapist and administrator, addressing child and family issues, especially around child abuse and grief. Heather S. Haas is NYS certified in school building leadership, school counseling, special education, and elementary education. Currently, she is an administrator of special education. In the past, she has worked as a special education teacher, school counselor and chairperson for the committee on special education. Haas has extensive experience with students classified as emotionally disabled and learning disabled, as well as in creating and implementing Individualized Education Programs. She also created and implemented a GED and career exploration program for at-risk youth. She has a current publication entitled A School Counselor’s Resource Manual: Practical Tools for the Trade. Haas served as president of the Buffalo-South chapter of Phi Delta Kappa for the 2007-2008 school year. She enjoys speaking at local conferences to further advocate for students with disabilities. She holds a master’s of science in education and a certificate of advanced study from St. Bonaventure University. Danielle C. Patti was born and raised in Jamestown, NY. After pursuing a master’s in education in the field of counseling, she began her career as an elementary school counselor with the Southwestern Central School District. She later moved into a position as a high school counselor within the district to broaden her experience. After obtaining an additional master’s in education in the field of educational leadership, she transitioned into the role of elementary school assistant principal. Her experiences include presentations to the New York State School Counseling Association on the important role that counselors play in the special education process, chairing the committee on preschool education for Southwestern School District, and operating as past president of the Chautauqua County School Counselor’s Association. Beginning her career as a counselor and later transitioning into administration has provided her with a wide range of experiences and knowledge in the field of human development. She refers to herself as an advocate for children and education. Believing that all students can achieve success is her motivation, and she strives to provide exceptional support and educational programming for the families within her school district.