Individualized education programs (IEPs) reflect the spirit of individualized instruction that lies at the heart of special education. Quality annual goal statements, which propel the implementation of special education programming, use clear language to communicate measurable, meaningful, and standards-aligned expectations to all members of the…

Parents from culturally diverse backgrounds need to feel that they play a vital role in the future success of their sons or daughters with disabilities. Differences in culture and ethnicity can affect families' involvement in transition planning and the goals that they emphasize for their children. Families of diverse backgrounds were surveyed and…

A project at the University of Kansas has analyzed, evaluated, and developed guidelines for multicultural emphasis in special education teacher education. The project has progressed from analysis of the department curriculum to development of a workshop model (the format of which is included). (CL)

Multicultural education in teacher preparation programs seeks to sensitize preservice special education teachers to individual differences attributable to culture or ethnicity. Described are the goals and objectives of a multicultural module; teaching strategies; module evaluation; resources used; and such learning techniques as fishbowl…

This publication emerged from an invitational meeting held by "Project Zero to Three" to address how best to provide effective, culturally sensitive, and comprehensive early intervention programs to all infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families in an equitable way. Following an overview of the concept of culture and how that…

The manual describes a variety of media approaches in the United States, Hong Kong, India, and Pakistan to changing attitudes toward the disabled. Four principles of media communications are stressed: (1) children's television is an important vehicle for changing attitudes; (2) it is vital to know the audience; (3) active participation by the…

Strategies are presented for recruiting family members from minority groups to be involved in the formation of policies and development of programs that affect their lives and those of their young children with disabilities. Organizational strategies, strategies to empower family members, logistical strategies, and process strategies are…

The paper, originally given at a 1986 Ethnic and Multicultural Symposium, attempts to provide a practical frame of reference for understanding and appreciating the similarities and differences among Asian Americans. Discussed are immigration and settlement history as well as acculturation (types of acculturation and factors influencing…

This paper reviews the need for formalized training of school psychologists in early childhood education and intervention with children who have disabilities. A training model and preservice training grant to prepare school psychologists to work with culturally diverse preschool children are presented. Challenges faced during the first two years…

This article examines issues related to treatment acceptability in early intervention programs, by applying concepts pertaining to collaboration, cultural difference, compliance and freedom of choice, family life cycles, and systems theory. A paradigm for designing home-based intervention plans with families of preschoolers with behavior disorders…

The paper examines diversities and commonalities among Asian Americans and draws implications relative to special education service for Asian minorities. The first section focuses on diversities and complexities in this group with subsections on origin, sociocultural background prior to migration, immigration and settlement history, degree and…

This article identifies cultural, linguistic, and economic factors that educators should consider in designing services to meet the needs of families of culturally and linguistically diverse exceptional children. Additionally, strategies are suggested for involving these families in educational programs. (Author/DB)

As many as 15 million people living in rural areas report one or more long-term impairments that significantly affect their quality of life. In general, disabled people living in rural areas receive fewer services than do people in urban areas. For example, counties in Montana with the largest population centers received significantly more…

This project recruited and provided preservice training for individuals from underrepresented groups who were interested in working in urban areas with young children with special needs and their families. The project was implemented within the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) Exceptional Education program in collaboration with the…

The book contains seven author contributed chapters on issues concerning inservice and staff development in special education. Major themes of the papers include the importance of participant involvement in the planning process, the importance of gaining support at the onset by district and building administrators, and the need for carefully…