There has been lively and continuing interest worldwide about how best to ensure that all children, and, in particular, children with special needs or disabilities, have their views heard. In the UK, successive legislation across children's services has made this increasingly important. Children's views are even a part of the formal evaluation of…

The article illustrates how social change for individuals with disabilities can be made through the legislative process. The author recounts a four-year process that concluded with the passage of legislation for a preschool program for handicapped children supported by an appropriation of one million dollars. (Author/CL)

The author reviews the history, philosophy, and administrative organization of New York City's Mayor's Office for the Handicapped (MOH). The office's bill of rights is set forth and its activities in advocacy, particularly for physically handicapped people are recounted. The beginnings of the MOH are traced from reactions to a 1967 order to ban…

The booklet describes PARENTS TRAIN PARENTS, a project in which parents of handicapped children help other parents understand their rights and responsibilities under state and federal laws. The booklet is intended to help potential adopters modify program aspects for local settings. The model is analyzed in terms of user concerns, program…

In 1994, the Carnegie Corporation released "Starting Points: Meeting the Needs of Our Youngest Children," which called for an action agenda to promote responsible parenthood, guarantee quality child care choices, ensure good health and protection, and mobilize communities to support young children and families. In 1996, the Carnegie…

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, advances in the sociology of childhood and the consumer rights movement have placed the spotlight on children's rights in society, challenging those working with children to examine how they share power and ensure that children's views are taken on board. While children's service…

Noting that school-age child care can be considered an important component of community support for children and families, this report provides information and advice for programs and individuals wishing to secure funding for school-age care programs. The report contains the following sections: (1) "School-Age Care: Why Do We Care?,"…

This report describes how barriers to planning for children inappropriately placed in foster care were overcome in a 3-year demonstration project: Freeing Children for Permanent Placement, conducted by the Children's Services Division, Department of Social Services, State of Oregon. Clients, amount of effort made, personnel involved, social work…

This monograph summarizes the issues discussed at an international workshop convened to identify strategies, lines of action, and innovative approaches to respond to the needs of young children faced by the African HIV/AIDS pandemic. The monograph provides background information on the HIV/AIDS pandemic; describes current initiatives and results…

A teacher is in a position to identify a child who is the victim of child abuse. An inservice program in workshop form can train teachers to recognize an abused child, and to take steps to halt the practice. (JD)

This practicum was designed to provide teaching professionals with advocacy information, skills, techniques, and resources in order to increase participant awareness and self-confidence, and, ultimately, their community involvement. The primary method used to address this goal was the development and presentation of three workshops. These were…

This monograph, one of a series on disabled youth and the juvenile justice system, discusses the crucial role of advocacy for these youth, stressing the importance of understanding the connection between disabilities and problematic behavior. It describes the multiple barriers that often hamper youth with cognitive and other disabilities from…

Four practitioners in the field of gifted education provide perspectives on the history of efforts to develop support for special services to the gifted disabled population. Following biographical background information, transcripts of informal interviews with participants Merle Karnes, James Gallagher, Gail Hanninen, and Waveline Starnes are…

The creation of multifaceted, multigenerational programs in college communities could create a ripple effect of advocacy for physical education with students and parents becoming agents for change in their own families, communities, cultures, and professions. This article describes community-based physical activity programs at West Virginia…

A child development team in a children's services unit of a mental health center should: (1) formulate a broad philosophy of treatment for young child clients; (2) evaluate treatment approaches to determine the extent to which they facilitate or conflict with that philosophy; (3) assess inservice training needs to ensure competency-based service…