Most efforts to understand and support self-determination have dealt solely with adolescents and adults, sometimes overlooking and excluding the foundations in early childhood that are required for successful emergence of self-determination. The purpose of this article is to share what is known about early self-determination and to suggest how…

Reviews information that teachers can impart to parents to assist them in parenting gifted children. Subjects addressed include characteristics of gifted learners, the need for early identification, school options, advocacy, myths about gifted students, the charge of elitism, the need to organize parent associations, burnout, and resources. (CR)

This case study describes a model for transition from early intervention programs to special education preschool programs. The model focuses on educating and empowering parents to become long-term, independent, informed advocates for their children, via a program involving workshops and individual family transition assistance provided by…

The project sought to determine the content and form of materials that would enable parents of children with disabilities to become informed critical consumers of respite services. Project activities included establishment and utilization of a national advisory panel; an indepth review of the literature on family supports, systems change, and…

The guide, intended to complement developed curricula for parents, professionals, and consumers concerning access and use of assistive technology, focuses on appropriate technology for young children with disabilities. A question and answer format is used to address: terms used in the guide, service considerations (e.g., the role of evaluation in…

One of two Massachusetts reports on minority students in special education, the booklet contains eight articles focusing on the parent's role in special education decision making. The initial article discusses steps to help parents prepare for the team meeting. The effects of misplacement are noted in the next article. The following article…

The issue's major feature, on physical and sexual abuse of handicapped children, focuses on education and adult awareness of the problem. It has been well documented that children with handicaps are especially vulnerable to abuse. Parents or other adults who believe that abuse has occurred should first write down exactly what the child has told…

This directory contains information about organizations in the United States that offer support, education, referral, advocacy, and other assistance to parents of children and youth with emotional and behavioral disorders. Organizations included are those identified as providing one or more of the following services: education and information;…

This article describes a 20-hour, eight-week course for experienced foster parents. Goals include understanding the causes of child abuse, understanding the consequences of child abuse, and understanding the interaction patterns which provoke child abuse. (Author/DB)

The instructor's manual is part of a curriculum intended to help provide Arkansas parents of disabled children with basic information on accessing and using assistive technology. The material is divided into three goal areas. The section on Goal 1, the development of technology advocacy concepts, covers basic definitions of assistive technology…

Noting that grandparents in the parenting role are often overwhelmed by the problems of their children, grandchildren, and the social milieu in which they live, this manual presents a 14-session workshop series designed to empower grandparents who are raising their grandchildren alone. Designed to complement "To Grandmother's House We Go and…

The Refugee Women's Alliance, a nonprofit organization helping refugee and immigrant women achieve self-sufficiency in the United States, has developed a class integrating English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) instruction and discussion of family issues, child-rearing, and related problems in a new cultural context. The project focuses on developing…

The manual provides parent educators with guidelines for conducting a series of four 1-hour meetings to help parents of preschool handicapped children fulfill their role as their child's advocate. At the first meeting, information on tests and testing and on the Individualized Education Program process is presented. In the second meeting, parents…

This directory contains information about 214 organizations that offer support, information, and other services to parents of seriously emotionally handicapped children and adolescents in the United States. The directory listings were compiled from information obtained through a 1985-86 survey of parent organizations conducted by the Families as…

This article presents a three-step process for creating a classroom accommodations plan under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act: (1) parent and student education, collaboration, and agreement; (2) teacher input/agreement; and (3) parent training for 504 follow-up, coordination, and advocacy. Physical, instructional, and behavioral…