A display of items and materials (such as prostheses, hearing aids, and braille material) can help nonhandicapped students and teachers appreciate similarities and differences of handicapped students. The development of one such Handicap Awareness Showcase is detailed. (CL)

Guidelines are offered for facilitating independent or small group investigations by gifted and talented students. Steps include exploring student interest, developing the chosen topic, using the management plan, implementing and monitoring the project, and helping students with evaluation. (CL)

The article highlights the role of curriculum in special education within the contexts of the Individualized Education Program and a 6-S paradigm of the instructional program (someone, something, somebody, somehow, somewhere, and sometime). (CL)

An ecological survey is used to collect information about a wide range of variables that can influence a student's problem behavior. The survey enables teachers and parents to identify the settings and conditions in which behaviors are displayed, in order to develop an appropriate behavior change program. (JDD)

Physical education teachers can establish successful therapeutic exercise programs for mainstreamed handicapped students by involving peer helpers in a carefully designed program. (CL)

Guidelines are offered to help teachers plan computer assisted instructional programs for gifted students. The flexibility of the computer enhances potential for academic acceleration. Examples of an alternative strategy for reviewing problem solving using BASIC are given. (CL)

The article presents the major elements of the data-based program modification approach designed to comply with the individualized education program mandate of P.L. 94-142 (the Education for All Handicapped Children Act). Procedures for implementing each of the model's components are outlined. (SBH)

Addresses pitfalls in formulating individualized education program (IEP) goals and objectives for handicapped students as mandated by P.L. 94-142 (the Education for All Handicapped Children Act). Short-term objectives are subordinate to goals and should reflect a hierarchical relationship to goal. Some of the inadequacies of written objectives are…

The use of contract activity packages (CAPs) in writing an individualized education program for special needs students is discussed. A CAP is defined as including simply stated objectives; use of multisensory resources; creative, sequential material; provision for student developed alternatives; at least three small group techniques; and a pretest…

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 program for reintegrating students with disabilities into the mainstream involves data-based decisions during the following phases: long-range planning, assessing the less restrictive setting, approximating new placement routines, assessing student readiness, the transition, followup, and evaluation. A checklist for assessing the less…

Seven author-contributed papers focus on excellence in urban special education schools. Libby Goodman reviews the isolation of special education teachers and children, in "The Effective School Movement and Special Education," while Dan L. Peterson et al. trace the implications for the Seattle School District of the efforts described in…

Ways in which the resources of a university's special education, communication arts, and library services can be combined with those of special education consortiums or parent organizations to provide exceptional children and their parents and teachers with high-quality cable educational television programs that meet their varied needs are…

The South Metropolitan Association Communication Development Program in Flossmoor, Illinois, developed a language-oriented program that improved reading and writing proficiency of students with communication disorders. The program involves development and reading of language experience stories, role playing, vocabulary development, and other…

This article presents a four-step strategy for developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for severely disabled learners based on principles of age-appropriate participation in regular classes and special education and related services provided in the regular school environment. Stressed are integration, individualization, teamwork,…