To provide a missing piece to the legal foundation of professional development and practice for the individualized education program (IEP) process, the authors report the results of a comprehensive systematic analysis of court decisions specific to IEP-related procedural violations after the 2004 amendments of the Individuals With Disabilities…

The provision of special education for students with disabilities depends upon the availability of well-qualified special educators, which, in turn, depends upon the availability and characteristics of preparation programs. In countries of the world where special education systems are still developing the capacity to provide the education that…

Over 6.5 million youth and their families are eligible for early intervention or special education services (Data Accountability Center, 2011) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA). The principal mechanism by which goals, objectives, services, and placements are determined for Part B of the IDEA are Individualized…

The article traces the initial development of respite care in the 1970s to a variety of creative urban and rural program models found in the United States by the early 1980s. Implications for advocacy, funding, and further research indicate the growing need for and acceptance of this essential family support system. (Author/CL)

Local school systems, Local Education Agencies [LEAs], and universities, Institutions of Higher Education [IHEs], work together in a variety of ways in the initial preparation and ongoing professional development of teachers, although it is difficult to ascertain the number of LEA/IHE partnerships. These relationships typically allow for a…

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)

Background on the development of early education for the handicapped in the Federal Republic of Germany and on legislative and financial factors is discussed as well as current practice in early intervention and preschool education. The state of professional training and research is indicated, as are the major issues reflected in recent…

The paper is a product of the 3-year project, "Functional Mainstreaming for Success," designed to develop a model for instructional mainstreaming of handicapped children (3-6 years old) in community settings. The paper reviews the literature defining "mainstreaming," notes that mainstreaming is not the wholesale return of exceptional students from…

Among procedural considerations in planning a peer tutoring program are tutor and tutee selection (examining age, sex, socioeconimic, cultural, and racial factors); tutor training; and program monitoring. Ethical considerations include stigmatization of the tutee. Future research issues should focus on long term effects and optimal tutor-tutee…

Literature on peer tutors and peer helpers with handicapped and nonhandicapped students is reviewed and a model is proposed for the establishment and supervision of peer helpers. Steps include identification of needs; selection of helpers; preparation of helpers; the process of helping, recording, supervision, and evaluation. (Author)

This review defines supported employment, presents a rationale for it, describes four types of placement models, outlines supported employment program components, and analyzes effectiveness and populations served. The contributions of applied behavior analysis to supported employment are examined. (JDD)

The gifted handicapped student is discussed in terms of developing staff sensitivity, formulating an identification process, and developing a transdisciplinary team approach to create an individualized educational program for each child. Within the identification process a major new element is the Teacher Observational Item (TOI) list. (Author/SB)

This report re-evaluates evidence on the issue of age ranges served of handicapped children in Illinois schools, analyzes additional research on the issue, and estimates the cost that would be incurred if the current 3-21 year range were to be lowered to birth. A literature review addresses two broad areas: the identification and effectiveness of…

Changes in the education of exceptional children have placed new demands on physicians and teachers to work together. A review of educational and medical literature on physician/teacher collaboration indicates that collaboration is necessary, desirable, and possible. Suggestions for improving collaboration are provided. (Author/DF)

Data on people with disabilities can be used to confirm service needs and to evaluate the resulting impact of services. Disability statistics from surveys and administrative records can play a meaningful role in such efforts. In this article, the authors describe the array of available data and statistics and their potential uses in rehabilitation…