This guide provides background information to help interpret Iowa state and federal rules as they apply to occupational therapy (OT) for students with disabilities (birth to age 21) in educational settings. The first section is on personnel and provides definitions and statements of licensure for the positions of occupational therapist and…

This guide to special education funding in Alberta (Canada) describes the types of special education funding available, explains how to apply for special education funding, and discusses how applications for special education funding are monitored. An overview presents a chart of special education funding for 1997/1998 that shows funding and rates…

This guide, intended for regular educators in Pitt County, North Carolina, attempts to answer questions concerning Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, compares this statute with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and offers practical suggestions for implementing Section 504. An introduction explains the right of a…

This guide presents practice recommendations developed by a special Iowa study group as a result of change in 1995 from state-developed definition and eligibility criteria for learning disability to the definition and evaluation requirements of federal regulations. The recommendations focus on preferred practices in assessment, evaluation, and…

This manual describes the rationale, use, and validity of the Temperament and Atypical Behavior Scale (TABS), a norm-referenced measure of dysfunctional behavior appropriately used with infants and young children between the ages of 11 and 71 months. TABS is intended to identify children who are developing atypically or are at risk for atypical…

The identification of clusters of behavior that are commonly seen in infants with prenatal drug exposure is discussed, as are intervention techniques that have been successful in hospital and home programs. Reading behavioral cues, modifying the environment, and providing support for the infant's attempts at self-regulation are suggested.…

Principles of comprehensive assessment of students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are examined in relation to legal compliance, special considerations for cultural diversity, medical diagnosis versus educational identification, and the problem-solving assessment model. Strengths and weakness of specific strategies are identified as…

Background and historical information on dyslexia are presented, including use of the term dyslexia, definitions of brain disorders affecting language ability, various schools of thought on remediation, guidelines for evaluating individuals with language-processing problems, and recommendations for treating common problems. (SW)

This policy brief describes attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as involving three characteristics: inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. The brief reviews the causes of ADHD, including the belief that it is primarily an inherited, neurobiological disorder. The effects of ADHD on children are discussed and may include: other…

This report is designed to facilitate efforts to develop and implement equitable educational policies and procedures, and remedy discriminatory practices that lead to disproportionate representation of students from racial and ethnic minority groups in special education. It aims to enable technical assistance providers to provide more effective…

This report addresses states' definitions and assessment guidelines for the category of traumatic brain injury, newly identified as a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Information sources included state policy documents from 19 states and interviews with state education agency personnel. A background section…

This guide provides adolescents with information on depression. An introduction discusses symptoms of depression and lists famous people who were known to be depressed. Part 1, "What's Wrong," explores how it feels to be depressed, the causes and types of depression, and the connections between depression, suicide, and drug and alcohol abuse. A…

This guidebook was developed to assist Wisconsin parents, educators, and other professionals who deal with young children in the early identification of hearing problems. Section 1 provides an overview of the topic and discusses the importance of early identification and treatment of hearing problems. Section 2 examines state and federal laws,…

This booklet for Minnesota parents of children with disabilities provides an overview of special education services. Information is provided on: (1) the purpose of special education; (2) disabilities that are covered under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; (3) eligibility age; (4) types of special education and related services; (5)…

This guide is intended to provide parents, administrators and service providers in Iowa with information needed to access and implement early childhood special education (ECSE) programs and services for children with disabilities from birth through age five. Section 1 provides an overview of ECSE in Iowa, including the program rationale, program…