In 1924, attitudes toward people with special needs were radically different than they are today. That year, a small group of teachers and doctors recognized the need for change this area of education and asked Rudolf Steiner for this seminal lecture course as a fresh basis for renewing their work.Many decades later, the movement he inspired has grown enormously, with hundreds of homes around the world for both children and adults with special needs. Revolutionary in its approach, the far-reaching perspectives of this course remain a living source of inspiration to those in this field who are cultivating a spiritual approach. Steiner describes various polarities of illnesses and derives therapies from a comprehensive analysis. He considers individual cases in great detail and offers suggestions for therapeutic exercises and medical treatment. Throughout the course Rudolf Steiner gives valuable advice for the development of the educator's own capacities. This edition features a revised translation, 15 color plates, and an index.