Children and Youth with Extensive Support Needs

Preparation for Adult Life

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 stress the role of special education teachers in leading collaborative, interdisciplinary decision-making teams—including paraprofessionals, general educators, and families—to achieve better outcomes for students previously labeled as having severe disabilities. Equipped with evidence-based practices, in-depth exploration of essential skills for student success, and strategies for programmatic, technological, and interpersonal support, this text enables educators to better serve students with complex needs.