The handbook is intended to help professionals plan effective parent participation programs to increase involvement in their handicapped children's education. The manual asserts that parent involvement programs must be individualized to match the needs and characteristics of families involved. The manual consist of four major sections. The first…

Parents (N=229) of young children with handicaps in 10 states evaluated the Family Needs Survey, one instrument sometimes used to develop Individualized Family Service Plans. Overall, parents felt the survey to be useful in communicating useful information to professionals. The survey was equally acceptable to minority and low income parents.…

This instructor's manual is designed to help in implementing a course for caregivers on individual planning for individuals with disabilities. Content notes and implementation notes for each section are provided, as are sheets for overhead projection, worksheets, and handouts. The course is organized into 19 sections to be administered in 8 hours…

This study compared three written surveys intended to help identify family strengths and needs during the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) process. Subjects were 48 mothers of children enrolled in early intervention programs and 25 program providers. Mothers tended to prefer written surveys to personal interviews and rated the surveys'…

This monograph presents identified best practices in the development of Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP) as required for families who have young children with disabilities, by Public Law 99-457, the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments (1986). Chapter One presents an overview of the monograph's development and use. Chapter Two…

The article focuses on a practical prioritization process as a method to bridge the gap between assessment and planning of individualized education programs for severely handicapped students. This prioritization process is based upon a set of criteria agreed to by planning teams which include educators, related service personnel, and families.…

This paper suggests a framework for analyzing needs of students with disabilities in dealing with transition services in their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). It outlines procedures to follow to ensure adequate service delivery. The framework and procedures are intended to result in IEPs that not only will survive legal challenges but…

A project was conducted to create a handbook for consumer and homemaking education teachers in Georgia who deal with mainstreamed handicapped students. The handbook is intended to help teachers develop and implement effective individualized education programs and is designed to supplement the Georgia Curriculum Guide for Consumer and Homemaking…

This article discusses provisions of Public Law 99-457 and suggests that this law sets the stage for the development of family-centered services for young children with disabilities. The approach presented emphasizes identification of families' strengths and needs as a basis for implementing community-based programs, with professionals serving as…

This Colorado manual offers guidelines for parent counseling and training, which is seen as a special education related service to assist parents of students with disabilities in the development and implementation of the child's Individualized Education Program (IEP). The introduction addresses the purpose and benefits of parent counseling and…

Literature on the topic of preparing teachers for mainstreaming was reviewed, with focus on research and writings involving: (1) teacher attitudes toward mainstreaming; (2) teachers' expressed needs in regard to mainstreaming; (3) development of preservice education programs which provide a base of knowledge and experience in mainstreaming; (4)…

The preparation of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each handicapped child is seen as cumbersome and time consuming and involves writing similar goals and objectives repetitively for different students. Utilization of a microcomputer-based IEP preparation system has a significant impact on this process and what the school…

The curriculum model and implementation procedures outlined in this manual for the Developmental Training Program for students with disabilities are based on two trends: the emphasis upon teaching functional skills in the natural environment and the need for educational programs which demonstrate measurability, reportability, and accountability.…

This guide provides a framework for planning the triennial evaluation of students in the state of New York who receive special education services to determine whether there is a continuing need for those services. Following an introductory section which explains the rationale and basic requirements for such an evaluation, recommendations are made…

The Gifted and Talented Program (GAT) of the Mellon Junior High School, Mt. Lebanon School District, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was evaluated in 1985. Questionnaires were sent to 139 parents and 50 academic teachers. In addition, 9 teachers, 4 administrators, and 12 parents were interviewed. Responses were summarized in detail regarding 14 topics,…