In this article, the author offers his critique on Holburn and Cea's notion on "excessive positivism" that person-centered planners are overconcerned with scientific verification and logical proof. The author believes that Holburn and Cea's notion blurs the important messages they have for person-centered planners by leading toward a debate about…

The authors suggest that the Rules and Regulations of P.L. 94-142 (the Education for All Handicapped Children Act) for the development and implementation of child identification systems present severe policy problems for state planners. (Author/CL)

Considered in this article addressing the policy issues of educational services to bilingual exceptional children are: characteristics of Hispanic learning disabled students, special education policy and practice, program availability, personnel, identification and placement, programs, and professional development. (DB)

The "PRISE Reporter" newsletter is issued six times a school year, generally from November through May. This collection of 18 issues examines the following special education topics: "Chronological Age in the Design of Educational Programs for Severely and Profoundly Impaired Students" (L. A. Larsen and L. B. Jackson);…

This paper presents the Institute of Medicine model of the dynamic nature of the disabling process of both primary disabilities and secondary conditions, and the interaction of that process with risk factors and quality of life. The components of a comprehensive disability prevention program are discussed. (Author/JDD)

This commentary on "Natural Supports in the Workplace: The Jury Is Still Out" (Test and Wood), argues that the principles of natural supports should not be subject to empirical testing because they function as a guide to strategy development and strategy selection. Discusses the difficulties in examining natural support strategies. (CR)

The work group report identifies three priority areas for improved community services for disabled adolescents: (1) service systems deficient because of lack of consumer orientation, integration, access to services and systemwide planning, (2) inadequate leadership, and (3) lack of adequate accountability. (CL)

The author describes a process through which parents of exceptional children or school personnel in any community can organize a parent group for themselves and their children. (CL)

This chapter has been written as if it were 20 years from today, looking into the future and attempting to outline changes that hopefully will have occurred in public schools, specifically in the area of the provision of support programs for students who have disabilities. It is predicted that the public school of the future will provide full…

Two papers examine proposed programs for the disabled in developing nations of Asia and practical drawbacks to integrated education for handicapped pupils in developing countries. The first paper contrasts government rehabilitation policy and planning in Asian countries with the strategies currently advocated by international organizations in the…

Issues related to family assessment as part of early intervention programs with handicapped children are reviewed and the need for a family needs assessment as a first step in developing family focused interventions is stressed. Suggestions for the design, selection, and use of a needs assessment are made. (Author/DB)

The paper reviews factors affecting development of early intervention programs for all handicapped infants including changing political and economic conditions and programmatic issues (setting, staffing, identification). Finally, the provisions of P.L. 99-457 creating a discretionary infant intervention program are outlined. (Author/DB)

The article discusses problems inherent in using the developmental model in the implementation of programs for young children with disabilities, and proposes a reconceptualization based upon M. Lewis and M. Starr's salient responses model. The primary components of this model are presented, along with their implications for early intervention…

Cooperative extension sites may not meet Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. Extension agents should evaluate the following areas to ensure compliance: facilities, marketing, decision making, faculty awareness, resources, policies, and evaluation. (SK)

This article summarizes 43 empirical studies of school-to-community transition of hearing-impaired persons with developmental disabilities; discusses data collection and interpretation issues; and recommends future research, development, and evaluation. The studies deal with such areas as career/vocational preparation, independent living skills,…