Dr. Tim Lewis provides his reflections on his career working as a researcher-teacher to address the issues of children with challenges. Dr. Lewis also provides his advice for those entering the field.

In September 2010, the U.S. Senate's Armed Services Committee approved an amendment to the proposed National Defense Authorization Act. The amendment, known as Section 583, authorized a Defense Department pilot voucher program to mitigate the cost of private school tuition for special-needs children of military parents. Sen. Jim Webb, a member of…

Summarizes the 1997 amendments to IDEA in hopes that a solid understanding of the law will clarify the current rights of children and help inform advocacy efforts toward future amendments. Some of the changes include clarification of these terms: child with a disability; developmental delay; related services; supplementary aids; transition…

Addresses functional behavioral assessment (FA) concerns within the context of speculation about the possible functions served by mandating the use of FA in 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Suggests that the nature of public policy may deserve as much attention as research findings. (Author/CR)

Discusses the legal history of special education. The exclusion of students with disabilities and the early efforts to ensure a free appropriate education for students with disabilities are examined up to and including the enactment of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997. (Author/CR)

This collection of issue papers addresses the inclusion of students with disabilities who are labeled disruptive in general education classrooms. The publication begins by summarizing new provisions in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Amendments of 1997. The provisions make it clearer that students with disabilities must be…

This policy paper provides a list of questions and associated strategies that parents and parent organizations can address in an effort to ensure that statewide assessment systems fully and fairly include students with disabilities as required by the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and other federal laws.…

This book is intended to help parents of students with disabilities effectively proceed on their own through the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. Chapters cover the following topics: (1) child advocacy; (2) basic legal concepts of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the IEP, state special education laws, and some…

This booklet, on the transition of Maryland students with disabilities to life after high school, is designed to build informal partnerships for the transition planning process. It provides details about: (1) the goals and components of transition planning; (2) the participants in transition planning; (3) the timing for formal transition planning;…

This participant's manual is part of a training program sponsored by IL NET, a national training and technical assistance project working to strengthen the independent living movement. It is intended to teach participants what the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) law and regulations require, how to do transition planning and the…