8What's So Special About Special Education is a short, practical, realistic guide for teachers in special education-particularly those working with children with severe disabilities-to more effectively communicate with classroom parents. It is written from the perspective of a veteran special education teacher and mother of a child with severe disabilities, who often mentored new teachers seeking advice about how to deal with their student's parents. The book offers teachers information about how to communicate with parents and form a partnership that will make the classroom experience more effective and the teacher's job easier. It covers things every special ed teacher needs to know to succeed in this challenging field, and offers a view from both sides of the IEP. This information is often not taught in teacher training courses, but it is essential for teachers struggling with the many facets of their students' disabilities. Parents and other school professionals will benefit from this book, and may find it helpful to give it to their students' teachers. It is a useful handbook for in-service or for reading before IEPs and the beginning of every school year.