Special Education Annotated Bibliography

Rules, Cynthia Lord

Lords book tells the story of a girl named Catherine, who struggles with living with an
autistic brother and trying to maintain a normal life. After befriending a new neighbor and a boy
at the clinic where her brother works with a therapist, she then feels the need to conceal this part
of her life in order to be friends with her new neighbor. By doing so ultimately hurts all parties
involved, and while some can forgive her, she comes away with a new perspective where her life
doesn't have to be regimented by rules like her brother needs.
I think that this book is a great source for understanding the perspectives from both a
child with a special ability as well as a sibling whose life is often structured around the needs of
their sibling. Through the entire book, we dont learn what special ability the other boy who
Catherine befriends, which I think was really quite important. It speaks to the idea that while
someone may have a special ability, it doesn't make them any different from how we think and
feel. Rather, we are all flawed, but that doesn't make anyone less of a person. A very good story
for both students and adults alike, with themes that speak to a reader of any age.
The Short Bus: a Journey Beyond Normal, Jonathan Mooney
Mooneys biographical story tells of his adventure of road tripping across the United
States, making stops at homes of people who have been influenced by his speaking on having a
learning disability. The diversity of people he visits is vast, and comes to the conclusion that the
idea of normal, which he had tried to obtain throughout his education is a non-existent ideal.
While The Short Bus may not address how educators can specifically handle exceptionalities
within the classroom, it is a reminder that the idea of normalcy is like that of perfection; an
unattainable goal set by society. He recognizes that the people whom he meets with
exceptionalities are in fact, the most normal on the spectrum as they have no idea of what
normalcy is to them.
Special Education Resources, BC Ministry of Education
https://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/specialed/sped_res_docs.htm
The BC Ministry of Education provides in depth resource documents about many
exceptionalities within special education. The documents which I have taken the time to look
through give define what the exceptionality is, how it can be managed within the classroom by
using strategies, as well as giving examples of how a particular situation can be handled and who
else, if anyone, needs to be involved in the situation. I think that these documents are a great
resource for a more detailed look at special education in BC, which provides the relevant
information to help an educator get the support needed for individuals in the classroom.
Teaching Students with Autism Resource Guide, BC Ministry of Education
https://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/specialed/docs/autism.pdf
This guide was an essential source when developing our SPEd exceptionality group
project. Not only did it explain what the Autism spectrum is, but the guide also provided a
chapter outlining other characteristics which are associated with individuals who have Autism. I
also found that compared to other guides, there were sections which explained an educators part
in transition planning and how an IEP is put together for a student with Autism, which I found to
be helpful in understanding what I could do in my classroom to support a student. Additionally, I

think that recognizing Aspergers Syndrome isnt the exact same as Autism by having a separate
chapter was a subtle way to include the differences and similarities of these exceptionalities.
The Inclusive Classroom, Margo Mastropieri
The Inclusive classroom has been an excellent resource for brief descriptions of
exceptionalities, and appropriate strategies that could help a new educator with the respective
exceptionalities in their classroom. This source works as an introduction for having
exceptionalities, and gives a better direction of where to continue inquiry for incorporating
students with exceptionalities in the classroom.