The transition from school to adulthood is a pivotal time in the lives of all students. For a student with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), change of any kind can be challenging, and a transition as momentous as this can seem especially daunting. Thoughtful planning, sound information, and open communication will help parents support young adults…

Basic information about the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is presented in a question-and-answer format. The following questions are addressed: "What is the purpose of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?"; "Why is the ADA needed?"; "How is disability defined by the ADA?"; "What does the ADA…

This guide provides information on Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in a question-and-answer format for employees. The guide covers such topics as the following: which employers must comply; what employment practices and activities are covered; who is protected against employment discrimination; definitions of a person with a…

This pamphlet outlines the provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination against students on the basis of handicap, in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. The evaluation and placement procedures that schools must carry out to determine the educational needs of a…

The pamphlet outlines provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which protects the rights of persons with handicaps in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance, including individuals with disabilities that may not be apparent. The pamphlet answers questions about the civil rights of students with hidden…

The Americans with Disabilities Act demands a proactive approach in developing effective and integrated adventure education programs for the disabled. Programs cannot exclude qualified disabled individuals; modified participation is a choice, not a requirement; and staff must work toward removing physical barriers and providing reasonable…

Librarians responsible for interviewing prospective employees need to be aware of guidelines in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 which prohibit certain recruiting practices. This article gives examples of questions employers should and should not ask, reviews pre- and postemployee interview steps, and offers tips and background…

Examines the accessibility of Web sites belonging to 80 colleges of communications and schools of journalism by examining the hypertext markup language (HTML) used to format the pages. Suggests ways to revise the markup of pages to make them more accessible to students with vision, hearing, and mobility problems. Lists resources of the latest…

In the two years that the Michigan Civil Rights Commission has been enforcing legislation prohibiting discrimination against handicapped persons, some valuable insights have been gained into how these complaints must be handled in ways different from other types of discrimination complaints. (Author/EB)

This article discusses the movement toward focusing on the individual rather than the disabling condition when referring to people with disabilities and contrasts acceptable and unacceptable terminology for people with different types of disabilities. The terms "impairment,""disability," and "handicap" are defined. (CR)

This document is designed to prepare advocates in the international disability community for productive participation in the development of international conventions on the human rights of people with disabilities. Knowledge of the standard categories of international law provisions will help participants address issues related to the structure of…

This pamphlet outlines requirements for a free, appropriate, public education (FAPE) for students with disabilities under Section 540 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Requirements include: (1) ensuring that all school age children who have disabilities are entitled to FAPE; (2) providing an appropriate education that includes educational…

This article provides teachers with a list of books and ideas for teaching about disabilities. Forty-six books are identified, 17 received either the Newbery or the Newbery Honor Award. The list of books includes a brief summary of the plot, the main disability discussed, and other curricular applications. (Author/CR)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) are two major pieces of social legislation that impact private and public employers, including school districts. Public school employers must have thorough awareness of the legal requirements of both laws and must analyze the ways in which those requirements…

The author examines concerns about whether or not, and by what criteria, handicapped students should be included in or excluded from comprehensive competency testing programs, as well as the implications of minimum competency testing for the handicapped. Pertinent legislation from several states is discussed. (Author/SJL)