Book excerpt: The special education area of deafblind severe disabilities is a highly specialized area involving a close working relationship among medical and educational professionals. In this book, author Jones presents a very complete package of information for the educator of children with severe disabilities. The book includes detailed diagnostic information so that the teacher will understand the physical, mental, social, and educational status of the student. The materials allow the teacher to plan for skill development based on the specific deficits of the child in relation to the skills needed. The main features of this new Second Edition remain to provide a teacher-training text and resource volume for teachers and other professionals serving not only students with deafblindness and severe disabilities but also children of any disability functioning within the sensorimotor stage of development. The new edition also provides, under one cover, theoretical background information, medical information, diagnostic information, and specific instructional information for classroom teachers and related service professionals to use in determining functional abilities for program planning and writing IEPs, collecting data to monitor IEPs, and ideas for hands-on materials that teachers can create and use for instruction in their classrooms. Each chapter begins with a brief outline, discusses background medical information and theory; discusses evaluation, diagnosis, programming, and IEP monitoring; and ends with a summary. Also included are the new research and developments in the field and an expanded view of motor skills. Tables have been reformatted at the back of each chapter. A major addition to this text is the focus on 'Snoezelen' which includes developing a Snoezelen resource room, designing the room with placement of the special materials, and specific ways of using the Snoezelen room and the sensory stimulation materials for relaxation, leisure and enjoyment.