About the Author(s)
Tom E.C. Smith is currently the Dean, College of Education and Health Professions, and University Professor of Special Education at the University of Arkansas. He recently completed 20 years as Executive Director of the Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children and was appointed to three terms on the President’s Committee on Intellectual Disabilities. Dr. Smith has authored or co-authored 30 textbooks and more than 40 articles in professional journals. In addition to this text he has authored:
Smith, T.E.C., Gartin, B., Murdick, N., & Hilton, A., (2006.). Families and children with special needs. Columbus, OH: Merrill/Prentice Hall; Smith, T.E.C. & Patton, J.R. (2007). Section 504 and Public Schools. (2nd Edition). Austin, TX: Pro-Ed; Smith, T.E.C., Gartin, B., & Murdick, N. (2012). Including adolescents with disabilities in general education classrooms. Columbus, OH: Pearson; Polloway, E.A., Miller, L., & Smith, T.E.C. (2012). Language instruction for students with disabilities (4th Ed.). Denver, Love Publishing; Smith, T.E.C. (1990). Introduction to education, 2nd Ed. St. Paul: West Publishing;
Smith, T.E.C., Price, B.J., & Marsh, G.E. (1986). Mildly handicapped children and adults. St. Paul: West Publishing
Edward A. Polloway is the Rosel H. Schewel Chair of Education at Lynchburg College in Virginia, where he has taught since 1976 after receiving his doctoral degree from the University of Virginia. He served twice as president of the Division on Developmental Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children and on the Board of Directors of the Council for Learning Disabilities. He also served on the committee that developed a prior definition of intellectual disability (mental retardation) for the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Dr. Polloway is the author of 22 books and over 100 articles in the field of special education, with primary interest in the areas of learning disabilities and intellectual disabilities.
Teresa Taber Doughty is a professor of special education and Associate Dean in the College of Education at Purdue University. She has published more than 50 scholarly articles, books, and book chapters on topics related to serving individuals with disabilities and conducted numerous presentations to national and international audiences. She is a former president and current executive director of the Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children.
James R. Patton is currently Adjunct Associate Professor of Special Education at the University of Texas. He received his doctoral degree from the University of Virginia after teaching high school biology for several years. He also taught elementary special education and students with dual diagnoses – learning disabilities and gifted. Recently he has become very involved in death penalty cases involving individuals with intellectual disabilities. His primary areas of research include transition and legal rights of individuals with disabilities.
Carol A. Dowdy retired as Professor of Special Education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham after more than 25 years where she taught her entire career. She currently consults with rehabilitation agencies, focusing on adults with learning disabilities. Dr. Dowdy received her doctoral degree from the University of Alabama. She has served on national boards of the Council for Learning Disabilities and the Professional Advisory Board for the Learning Disabilities Association of America. She has written nine textbooks and more than 35 articles in professional journals.
