This module was developed as part of a federally funded study group project, to answer the question of how students with severe disabilities can actively participate in lessons within regular elementary classrooms alongside their nondisabled peers, while still meeting their individualized goals and objectives. The module presents a brief overview…

This guide is designed to help parents make important decisions in the development of the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), which outlines the partnership between the family with a special needs child and the practitioners who provide early intervention services. The guide begins with a definition of an IFSP, followed by discussions of:…

This report is intended to help communities identify and implement programs designed specifically for parents. The first chapter, "Characteristics of Effective Prevention Program," by Bonnie Benard, explores program comprehensiveness and intensity, strategies, and planning. The second chapter "Parent Training as a Prevention…

This resource guide is intended to help in the development of disability awareness programs by school personnel or parent groups in Arizona. A step-by-step format is recommended, including first selecting the type of disability awareness program to be developed. This involves setting up meetings with the special education administrator,…

The guide presents six papers designed to help people become effective advocates for gifted and talented children. In "Effective Advocacy: Understanding the Process and Avoiding the Pitfalls," P. Mitchell considers such obstacles as using an adversarial rather than a persuasive approach and being impatient. She charts a procedure for more…

The experience of the University of Southern Mississippi in sponsoring "The Parenting the Gifted Children Conference" is described. Discussed are needs assessment, conference format, selection of speakers, budget, public relations, conference evaluation, and physical facilities. Included are a sample evaluation form, a conference…

This reprinted 1979 article presents 11 steps in establishing a course for parents of gifted children and offers suggestions on operationalizing the course plan. A model 10-week course is described that covers the overall scope of gifted education, including identification procedures, characteristics, parenting techniques, programs, curricular…

This book-for school administrators, school resource officers, teachers, and interested parents-is a guide for developing prevention and response plans to handle threats and violence in schools. With a focus on practical measures, it provides step-by-step advice on early identification of problems, intervention and prevention techniques, and…

This editorial describes the role of early intervention programs in helping children with disabilities, focusing on parents' and infants' needs, the Family Service Plan, and the role of case managers. The editorial cautions that: early intervention's effectiveness is unproven, early is not always better, and more is not always better. (JDD)

This booklet offers a humorous perspective on important guidelines for developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities which respect the values of collaboration, student and family leadership, and full inclusion. Humorous section titles and cartoons illustrate important principles: "Developing an IEP Shouldn't Be…

This book is written for parents, teachers, and counselors who have both a desire and a commitment to help children who experience a death. The first chapter provides an introduction and discusses when death education should occur. The second chapter emphasizes the importance of creating a caring relationship with children when death is…

The manual is intended for training surrogate parents of handicapped children according to Minnesota and federal statutes and regulations. Section 1 provides an overview of the surrogate parent program, noting relevant legislation, functions, rights, and responsibilities. Section 2 reviews the history of special education and related state and…

This guide describes methods to help parents and others reduce the unacceptable behaviors of children with multiple sensory impairments and replace those behaviors with acceptable ones. The guide recommends that the behavior change program begin with simple changes so that both the parents and the child gain experience in changing behavior. The…

Despite problems encountered by the characteristics of rural education districts, successful and appropriate programs to teach gifted students can thrive by utilization of nontraditional techniques for student identification and by delivery of services through acceleration, technology, advanced placement classes, mentors, community resources, and…

This report is a general guide for people planning a charter school. In September 1995 the Program on Reinventing Public Education, a collaborative effort of the University of Washington's Institute for Public Policy and Management and the RAND Institute for Education and Training, sponsored a workshop on charter school startup. This report…