The contribution that this book makes to scholarship is regarded as ground-breaking, as it is based on recent research conducted with teachers on the ground-level, as well as on research and experiences of practitioners, gained over many years. In this volume, Understanding education for the visually impaired, the focus falls on understanding visual impairment within the South African context, more specifically on what the education of these learners entails. In addition to the contribution to existing literature in the fields of inclusive education and visual impairment, the publication has practical application value for teachers and practitioners who work with and support such learners.

The Routledge Handbook of Visual Impairment examines current debates as well as cross-examining traditionally held beliefs around visual impairment. It provides a bridge between medical practice and social and cultural research drawing on authentic investigations. It is the intention of this Handbook to provide an opportunity to engage with academic researchers who wish to ensure a coherent and rigorous approach to research construction and reflection on visual impairment that is in collaboration with, but sometimes is beyond, the medical realm. This Handbook is divided into ten thematic areas in order to represent the wide range of debates and concepts within visual impairment. The ten themes include: cerebral visual impairment; education; sport and physical exercise; assistive technology; understanding the cultural aesthetics; socio-emotional and sexual aspects of visual impairment; orientation, mobility, habitation, and rehabilitation; recent advances in "eye" research and sensory substitution devices; ageing and adulthood. The 27 chapters that explore the social and cultural aspects of visual impairment can be taken and used in a variety of different ways in order to promote research and generate debate among practitioners and scholars who wish to use this resource to inform their practice in supporting and developing positive outcomes for all.

A paradigm shift is underway in education, challenging traditional teaching methods and calling for a more engaging and purposeful approach. It is necessary to explore how service learning empowers students to address real-world issues, fostering critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication skills essential for the 21st century. Effective and Meaningful Student Engagement Through Service Learning is a comprehensive exploration of the transformative power of service learning in contemporary education. Within this text, seasoned researchers and practitioners delve into the intricacies of student engagement, emphasizing the importance of active involvement in the learning process. This book opens with a reflection on education, where traditional practices give way to innovative pedagogies. This includes a new pedagogical approach that not only imparts knowledge but also cultivates socially responsible citizens. The book provides a rich tapestry of theoretical foundations, curriculum development strategies, and innovative pedagogical approaches that move beyond passive learning. From evaluating the impact of service learning to incorporating technology and measuring learning outcomes, each chapter offers theoretical frameworks, practical experiments, and real-life examples for educators, administrators, and policymakers. The diverse audience within and beyond the education sector, including students, faculty members, parents, policymakers, NGOs, and community organizations, will find within the pages of this book valuable insights and tools to create more effective and meaningful learning experiences. The book covers a broad spectrum of topics, from the institutionalization of service learning to motivations for sustainable engagement, making it an indispensable resource for anyone passionate about shaping the future of education.

The purpose of the Handbook of Special Education is to help profile and bring greater clarity to the already sprawling and continuously expanding field of special education. To ensure consistency across the volume, chapter authors review and integrate existing research, identify strengths and weaknesses, note gaps in the literature, and discuss implications for practice and future research. The second edition has been fully updated throughout to take into account recent changes to federal laws as well as the most current academic research, and an entirely new section has been added on research methods in special education.

This book presents for the first time the results of scientific research in the field of special education and special psychology carried out by top experts of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. The range of problems discussed in the book reflects the most relevant areas of development of the education system and psychological and pedagogical assistance to children with special educational needs (SEN). Both scientific and methodological developments provide practitioners with modern means of diagnostic, correctional, developmental, and preventive work. Furthermore, responding to the current challenges, the authors present the results of research on the impact of virtual reality on the health of adolescents, the results of an experiment on the study and formation of financial literacy of high-school kids with developmental disorders, highlight approaches to the prevention of auto aggressive behavior in the adolescent environment, and offer the proven technologies for psychological and pedagogical habilitation and rehabilitation of children with SEN of various nosologic groups and children with somatic pathology studying at a hospital school. The theoretical block of the book includes an analysis of the fundamental problems of today’s pedagogical and social reality: substantiation of conceptual approaches to the construction of an inclusive space, consideration of the basic psychophysiological mechanisms of speech, the formation of a convergent network educational environment and some other problems that can directly or indirectly affect the quality of education, upbringing, and social adaptation of children with SEN. The book is intended for psychologists, special-need experts, teachers, methodologists, employees of educational organizations working with children with disabilities, specialists in the field of inclusive education, students and teachers of special education, and pedagogical and psychological departments of higher education institutions.