By Lian Bunny
Photo Editor
A good marriage of special education and counseling.
That’s how Barbara Trolley, a counselor education professor, described the book titled “Working with students with disabilities: Preparing School Counselors.” Trolley co-edited the book and authored two chapters. Vicki McGinley, a professor of special education at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, also co-edited the book.
“Basically, there haven’t been many books [before this one] as far as working with kids with disabilities as school counselors,” said Trolley.
Trolley is not the only Bonnie who added to this work. Alan Silliker, a professor of education; Diana Lawrence-Brown, a professor of differentiated instruction; and Chris Siuta, a professor of counselor education, also wrote chapters. In addition, alumni Heather Haas, ’06, and Tamara Reynolds, ’10, authored chapters.
The book, part of Parson & Zhang’s series called “Counseling and Professional Identity,” is a good learning tool for all counselors, according to Trolley. Counselors who are still in school, doing graduate work, recent graduates or counselors who have been in the field for decades will benefit from reading it.
Trolley added the book also benefits school employees who work as a team with counselors, including special education directions, principles and teachers. The work includes case activities and exercises, allowing the reader to grasp the knowledge and apply it.
“It’s one of the first books that’s ever had a combination of special education and school counseling,” Trolley said. “It really touches on comprehensive topics between laying the foundation and how you apply it and work within a team.”
Taylor Greene, a graduate student in the differentiated instruction program, agreed and said the work could help professionals in schools work more effectively. As an undergraduate, Greene was an elementary education/special education major.
“A book that combines special education and counseling might have more information about how counseling may help, or not help, a classroom that has students with disabilities.” said Greene.
She added the book could help teachers implement strategies in their classrooms to help all students, giving each professional more background on their goals for the students. This could make meeting times more efficient, which is important for schools today, according to Greene.
According to Trolley, counselors often work to help teachers with behavior management, students with socialization and parents with understanding their children.
Greene said the book could be especially important for parents to read. Parents do not always see the benefits of counseling for their children, according to Greene.
“If there’s a book written explaining what counseling is, what it’s trying to achieve, and how it can be effective, more parents may be on board to have their child talk to a counselor,” Greene said.
Trolley said the collaborative work acted nicely as a checks and balances system, assuring the work coherently combined counseling and education. She said she enjoyed working with McGinley, who studies special education, when editing the book.
“I think that with all the pressures and common core standards and issues around academics, it’s kind of like, ‘Are we on the same page?’” Trolley said.
bunnyla13@bonaventure.edu
