Includes bibliographical references and index.

Understanding diversity -- Addressing diversity through the years: special and inclusive education -- Making schools inclusive a unifying framework -- Components of special and inclusive education -- Typical and atypical development among children -- Learners with additional needs -- Learners in other marginalized groups.

"Foundations of Special and Inclusive Education is an inevitable direction to take and must be properly understood and appreciated within the context of society being open to diversity. This is what this book bases its discussions on, starting with a clarification and definition of diversity. It then discusses the historical, socio-cultural, and philosophical foundations of inclusion before proceeding to an explanation of how inclusive schools can be created and supported. Typical and atypical development among children, as well as the learning characteristics of students with special education needs, are also discussed."--Back cover