If the book you’ve written and want to publish falls into the category of special educational needs, we’ve featured 13 top special needs book publishers for your perusal.
1. Woodbine House
Established in 1985 in Bethesda, Maryland, Woodbine House is a publisher that provides useful information to parents, professionals, and teachers who want to learn more about helping people with disabilities, whether it’s adults or children.
As they are mainly interested in developmental disabilities, their backlist includes titles on Down syndrome, ADD & ADHD, and autism. If you would like to get an idea of what they publish, look up “Managing Anxiety in People with Autism”, by Anne M. Chalfant, Psy.D., and “Journal of an ADHD Kid”, by Tobias Stumpf with Dawn Schaefer Stumpf.
Woodbine House is open to unagented submissions, even from unpublished writers. All you have to do is make sure to include 2-3 sample chapters, a table of contents, your target audience, a CV or author bio, and a list of books on the same subject, along with the reasons why your book is different. You can learn more here.
2. Brookes Publishing
Brookes Publishing is a Baltimore-based independent company which was established in 1978. As their goal is that of facilitating the learning process for a diverse range of readers, useful books can be found in their backlist by curious minds of all ages, from children to adults. At the same time, Brookes publishes titles for people with disabilities, as well as for parents and professionals who want to support them.
Their catalogs page features several categories, such as early childhood, special education, communication & language development, reading & literacy, and K-12 textbooks on special education. To learn more about their titles, you should look up “The Inclusive Classroom Profile (ICP™)”, by Elena Soukakou, D.Phil., and “Pivotal Response Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorders”, by Robert L. Koegel, Ph.D. and Lynn Kern Koegel, Ph.D.
If you feel like Brookes Publishing could be an appropriate choice for your book, make sure your submission includes a CV, a prospectus, an annotated table of contents, and a few other requirements that are listed here.
3. Hinton House
With headquarters in Banbury, UK, Hinton House was founded in 2007 and is a top publisher of counseling, social care, and education materials for professionals. Since their backlist mainly consists of titles that focus on the support of young people, from children to young adults, many of the Hinton House books are also suitable for caregivers and parents.
In terms of categories, their website features social & emotional, mental health & wellbeing, and special needs. The latter is divided into autism spectrum disorders, speech & language, and sensory & motor skills. Some of their best titles are “Understanding Sensory Processing Disorders in Children”, by Matt Mielnick, and “Exploring Theory of Mind for Children & Young People on the Autism Spectrum”, by Clare Lawrence.
If you’d like to talk to them about your project, you can send them an e-mail at info@hintonpublishers.com, contact Sarah Miles to discuss your idea, or send a submission form, along with your sample material and CV.
4. Critical Publishing
In 2012, Julia Morris and Di Page established Critical Publishing in Hertfordshire, England. Specializing in books for professionals from a wide range of fields, Critical Publishing titles help their readers develop skills such as critical thinking.
Some of their areas of interest are nursing, leadership, coaching & mentoring, social work, mental health, and teaching & leading. If you’re interested in special education books, you can check out “A Critical Guide to the SEND Code of Practice 0-25 Years”, by Janet Goepel, Jackie Scruton, and Caroline Wheatley, and “Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Children 4-11 Years”, by Jonathan Glazzard and Caroline Bligh.
Before submitting a proposal, you should reach them via e-mail or phone to discuss the details of your book. If they request sample material, you will receive a response in about 2-3 weeks.
5. Free Spirit Publishing
Founded in 1983 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Free Spirit Publishing was the initiative of Judy Galbraith, who wanted to provide books that would facilitate the development of young people. A former gifted-education professional and teacher, Judy created a company whose backlist includes appropriate materials for children with various learning disabilities.
The book categories featured on their website are gifted & special education, mental health, and teaching strategies & professional development, to give some examples. Interested in special education? Then you should look up “The Survival Guide for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder”, by Elizabeth Verdick and Elizabeth Reeve, M.D., as well as “Being Me with OCD”, by Alison Dotson.
If you would like to submit your work, don’t forget to include your CV, 2 or more sample chapters, a cover letter, a market analysis, and your personal promotion plan. Self-help books for adults, religious/New Age materials, and memoirs, biographies, and autobiographies are not of interest. You can learn more here.
6. AAPC Publishing
AAPC Publishing is a company specializing in books on autism, and it was established by Brenda Myles, Ph.D. and Keith Myles in 1999. Located in Shawnee, Kansas, the main goal of AAPC is that of maintaining a platform for authors that could generate change and contribute to a better understanding of ASD.
In terms of topics, their bookstore features autism parenting books, autism classroom management, sensory processing disorder, mental health strategies, and social emotional learning, to give some examples. Some of their best titles are “What Your Child on the Spectrum Really Needs”, by Jenna Gensic, and “Hygiene and Related Behaviors for Children and Adolescents with ASD and Related Disorders”, by Kelly Mahler, MS, OTR/L.
Interested in collaborating with AAPC Publishing? If so, your proposal should include a cover letter, an author bio, a chapter outline, a book synopsis, and 3 consecutive sample chapters. For more information, their guidelines are available here.
7. Future Horizons
Established by Wayne Gilpin in Arlington, Texas, Future Horizons is a publisher that aims at meeting the needs of families and professionals dealing with autism. Inspired by his son, Wayne was determined to make it easier for people to understand and support both children and adults on the spectrum.
Some of the book categories they feature are low functioning autism, teenagers, inspiring stories, social skills, parents & family, and children’s books, to give some examples. “1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism or Asperger’s”, by Ellen Notbohm and Veronica Zysk, and “Early Intervention and Autism”, by Jim Ball, ED.D., BCBA are just two of the titles on their backlist.
Before submitting your work, you should know that Future Horizons also require a cover letter, an author bio, 3 consecutive sample chapters, a chapter outline, and a book summary. You can access the full guidelines here.
8. Teachers College Press
With headquarters in New York, NY, Teachers College Press is a source of valuable information for all the professionals working in the education sector, from teachers to researchers. At the same time, this publisher is interested in related fields, such as women’s studies, psychology, and history.
Some of the topics you will find on their website are special & gifted ed, parenting, educational studies, ECE: child development & assessment, and multicultural/social justice ed. If you want to learn more about their special & gifted ed titles, check out “Affirming Disability”, by Janet Story Sauer and Zachary Rossetti, and “Let’s Be Friends”, by Kristen Mary Kemple.
Teachers College Press require prospective authors to include a chapter outline, a table of contents, the intended audience, complementary and competing texts, as well as the book’s purpose in their submissions. To read the complete guidelines, click here.
9. Plural Publishing
Plural Publishing is a San Diego-based company that produces educational and informative books for professionals specializing in audiology, special education, speech-language pathology, otolaryngology (head & neck surgery), and voice/singing.
Their special education category is divided into numerous sections, such as emotional & behavioral disorders, autism spectrum disorder, language & communication disorders, multiple/severe disabilities, and inclusion. Some of their best titles are “Teaching Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities”, by Brittany L. Hott, Kathleen M. Randolph, and Lesli Raymond, and “Intervention for Preschoolers using Augmentative and Alternative Communication”, by Prathibha Karanth, Celeste Roseberry-McKibbin, and Priya James.
Interested in publishing with Plural? All you have to do is send your CV and a draft manuscript/no less than 2 sample chapters. Before doing so, however, make sure read their complete guidelines.
10. Corwin
Established by David McCune, Corwin is a family-owned publisher that specializes in professional learning. Based in Thousand Oaks, California, this company provides the tools and information that teachers need in order to educate their students properly. Since inclusion is one of their main values, they publish works that address the needs of all children.
Some of their areas of interest are special & gifted education, emotional intelligence, education leadership, school counseling, equity & diversity, and brain-based teaching & learning, to give some examples. In terms of special education, their backlist features titles such as “Social Skills Success for Students With Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism”, by Richard L. Simpson and Ellen McGinnis-Smith, and “How the Special Needs Brain Learns”, by David A. Sousa.
Does Corwin seem like an appropriate choice for your project? If so, make sure to send them a brief overview of your book, a market analysis, and content details. You can find the full guidelines here.
11. Hawker Brownlow Education
Hawker Brownlow Education is a Melbourne-based publishing company that was established in 1985 by David and Elaine Brownlow. Presently, their titles are being used in more than 9,200 schools in New Zealand and Australia, and around 300 new ones are published each year. As their activity is focused on the needs of both teachers working within the Australasian region and parents, they constantly contribute to the education of young people.
Special education, child development, diversity, professional learning communities, critical & creative thinking, and wellbeing & mental health are just a few of the numerous topics they prefer. To learn more about their backlist, you should look up “Decoding Autism and Leading the Way to Successful Inclusion”, by Barbara Boroson, and “The Boy with a Different Brain”, by Brooke Ross.
Interested in publishing with Hawker Brownlow Education? If so, your submission should include your CV, a completed submission form, and your full manuscript/an annotated table of contents or detailed outline. More details can be found here.
12. Heinemann
Located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Heinemann is a top publisher of educational resources for professionals. After more than 40 years of experience, the company’s main goal is still that of facilitating teachers’ jobs, while also improving the quality of education, whether it’s kindergarten or college. Because they believe everyone should benefit from high-quality education, some of their resources are destined for students with disabilities.
Special education, remote learning, leveled literacy intervention, social studies, classroom management, and differentiated instruction are just a few of the book categories featured on their website. If you’d like to see some of their special education titles, check out “From Disability to Possibility”, by Patrick Schwarz, and “Rethinking the Education of Deaf Students”, by Sue Livingston.
The proposals of authors who want to collaborate with Heinemann should include a brief overview of the book, a table of contents, and sample chapters. For more details, click the Submit a Proposal section at the bottom of the main page.
13. Guilford Press
A New York-based publisher, Guilford Press was established in 1973 by Bob Matloff and Seymour Weingarten, and it currently has over 1,300 books available in print. Their areas of interest include politics & philosophy and psychology, psychiatry & social work.
The latter is divided into numerous categories, such as ADHD resources, child/adolescent assessment & diagnosis, infancy & early childhood, autism & developmental disabilities, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. If you’re interested in special education, “Bright Kids Who Can’t Keep Up”, by Ellen Braaten and Brian Willoughby, and “12 Principles for Raising a Child with ADHD”, by Russell A. Barkley are just two of the best titles in their backlist.
Your submission should include a table of contents, a 2-3 page introduction, the intended audience, and a detailed chapter outline, to name a few requirements. The full guidelines are available here.
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