Children and Youth with Extensive Support Needs

Children and Youth with Extensive Support Needs: Preparation for Adult Life, by Tom E. C. Smith and Suzanne Kucharczyk, takes a practical approach to prepare educators who will work with students with low incidence or complex disabilities. This text uniquely addresses the importance of preparing youth with significant support needs, starting earlier in their school years, for a high quality of life as adults. Smith and Kucharczyk emphasize that special education teachers must lead collaborative, interdisciplinary decision-making teams (paraprofessionals, general educators, parents and families) to have better outcomes for students previously deemed as having severe disabilities. The book provides evidence-based practices, deep dives into the skills these students need to thrive, and offers information on the programmatic, technological, and interpersonal supports these students need throughout their academic careers.