Shenandoah University Professor Melissa Hartman Publishes Special Education Textbook

By Natalie Gales ’25

Earlier this year, Assistant Professor of Special Education Melissa Hartman, Ed.D., published the textbook “Foundations of Special Education: Transcending Barriers” through Kendall Hunt Publishing. She has worked in the field of special education for nearly 40 years by teaching students with autism and intellectual, learning and emotional disabilities. These experiences provided her with the foundation for her book.

Dr. Hartman was inspired to write when searching for a textbook to use with her classes at Shenandoah University. However, she was at a loss to find a singular book that encompassed all of the knowledge she wanted to pass onto her students. As such, she decided to take it upon herself to create the book she had been looking for.

“Foundations of Special Education: Transcending Barriers” is targeted toward teachers, professors, college students, and parents of children with disabilities. In order to inspire curiosity and offer a fun, accessible approach to the field, Hartman embedded real-world case studies and videos into the book’s short chapters, creating an interactive, fast-paced learning experience. Topics covered in the book include special education’s evolution since the 1800s, modern learning theories, and the use of assistive technology in the classroom.

“I hope this book promotes empathy, acceptance, and further inclusion of people with disabilities in schools and the community by expanding the reader’s knowledge of special education history, laws, and practices,” Hartman said. “Throughout my 38 years in the field of special education, I have witnessed positive changes, but we still have so far to go and so many barriers to transcend.”

To learn more about special education from Hartman, check out “Foundations of Special Education: Transcending Barriers” on Kendall Hunt Publishing Company’s website.