This text is on transdisciplinary team assessment of infants and toddlers at developmental risk and emphasizes both the dynamics (interpersonal strategies) and the mechanics (team assessment strategies) of teamwork. Emphasis is on assessment for the development of Individualized Family Service Plans. Chapter 1 reviews major developmental…

Federal regulations have set forth specific performance standards for the provision of services for children with disabilities in Head Start programs. These regulations provide state and local education agencies and Head Start grantees with unique opportunities to collaborate to provide comprehensive, family-centered, and appropriate services to…

This summary of assessment information for programming in early childhood special education discusses principles of assessment, specific assessment procedures, and assessment instruments. An overview section on assessment provides definitions of "assessment" and "evaluation" and discusses the importance of assessment for…

This digest, based on a larger document titled, "Homeless and in Need of Special Education," by L. Juane Heflin and Kathryn Rudy, focuses on educational aspects of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. Briefly discussed are: the effects of homelessness on children (e.g., increased health problems); the educational implications…

This paper describes the Maine Consumer Information and Technology Training Exchange (Maine CITE) project designed to increase the availability and use of assistive-technology to Maine people with disabilities. Maine CITE is a 3-year project supported by the Maine Department of Education, Division of Special Education, with a grant from the…

This state plan describes how the state of New York intends to comply with legislative mandates concerning education of children with disabilities, specifically the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Part 300 of the Code of Federal Regulations. It also describes the planning and program initiatives that will be undertaken at…

This chapter on positive behavior management is taken from a guide to designing, implementing, and evaluating instruction and services for students with disabilities. The chapter describes considerations in designing positive management programs to prevent inappropriate student behaviors, foster the development of student responsibility, and…

This paper lists practices recommended by the Council for Exceptional Children's Division for Early Childhood, concerning general curriculum and intervention strategies in early intervention and early childhood special education (EI/ECSE) programs for infants and young children with special needs and their families. Definitions of…

This paper presents 15 questions for educators and administrators to ask themselves in designing and implementing inclusive and collaborative school programs. Questions, and the accompanying answers, cover such issues as funding, parental support, district philosophy, support for teachers, service delivery, teacher attitudes, regular education…

This practicum report describes the development and implementation of a program to increase parent participation in the planning and conducting of activities sponsored by the district-level special education parent advisory committee. Monthly meetings and social events were held to encourage the 250 special education families to be more involved…

The 12 brief articles in this "feature" or theme issue describe successful approaches to development of outdoor education programs which successfully integrate individuals with and without disabilities. Titles and authors are: "Outdoor Education and Adventure: Challenges and Rewards for All" (Stuart J. Schleien); "Benefits of Integrated Outdoor…

This document reports on efforts to develop an initiative to target increased involvement of the Arizona Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) with Arizona's disabled American Indians both on and off reservations. The report summarizes comments on important issues generated during a central office planning meeting of the Arizona RSA. It…

This paper discusses the issue of providing equitable access to computer equipment for disabled students in postsecondary education. Potential access problems may exist in the areas of input, output, environment, and documentation/support/training. Five checklists are provided that focus on generic strategies to fully or partially cover the needs…

The book proposes ways in which programs for gifted and handicapped students can be managed to make the best use of resources. An initial section provides guidelines for administrators who manage gifted programing. Guidelines touch upon the following topics: analysis of current efforts, assessment of staff and program needs, student identification…

This special issue of the journal Exceptional Children has the theme "Rural Special Education." Nine articles deal with this theme as follows: (1) "The State of the Art of Rural Special Education" (by D. Helge), looks at recent improvements, remaining challenges, and current functioning; policy recommendations are offered for national and state…