Many autistic children receive special education services via Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) that include specific educational goals and needs. Prior research has examined programming options available to support autistic students, but less is known about their educational needs across academic and developmental educational goals.…

School-based speech-language pathologists serve a growing population of students with complex communication needs, many using augmentative and alternative communication. The problem was the inconsistent assessment of communication and language skills that led to varied communication descriptions and reduced diversity of communication goals in…

This article addresses the inclusion of English learners with disabilities, including those with significant cognitive disabilities, in state and district assessments. The authors provide background information on who these students are and the relationship between academic English language development, content learning, and assessment. The…

This quasi-experimental study focused on 15 pairs of children with extensive support needs, matched across 12 characteristics based on their first complete Individual Education Program (IEP) in the school district. One child in each pair was included in general education for 80% or more of their day from their first IEP to the most current IEP at…

The APMI (Assessment, Placement, and Monitoring Index) is a non-categorical placement procedure designed to facilitate objective assessment, placement, and monitoring of exceptional children (ages 4 and up). The purpose of the APMI is to offer an "alternative" model for determining "severity" that (1) describes the needs of the…

Examines the potential usefulness of intensive interaction as an educational methodology with pupils whose learning difficulties are compounded by autism. Review of empirical case-study evidence together with questionnaire and interview data from teachers suggests that this intensive approach to developing fundamental social and communication…

Research on communication instruction for students with severe intellectual disabilities is reviewed, focusing on the pragmatic elements involved in accomplishing a successful communicative exchange. A federally funded project, called the "Conversation and Social Competence Research Project," is then described. The project sought to…

Summarized are the proceedings of a conference on the education of severely and profoundly handicapped children and youth. Following a welcome address by J. Kierstead are entries with the following titles and authors: "Basic Components of Instructional Programs--Theory into Practice" (L. Brown, et al.); "The Criterion of Ultimate…

The guide provides information on four sequences in the instruction of severely and profoundly handicapped students. The Curriculum Assessment Guide produces an overview of the student's skill development in input modes (tactile, auditory, and visual development); output modes (gross motor and fine motor); activities of daily living…

Fourteen author-contributed papers from a series of 1978 workshops focus on educational strategies for deaf-blind and severely handicapped students. Four papers ("The Child-Centered Educational Process for Deaf-Blind Children" by L. Frank; "Issues in Assessment" by R. Condon; "Assessing Multihandicapped Visually Impaired Children" by J. Jones; and…

The document is comprised of objectives and information on step-by-step tasks for instruction of trainable mentally retarded students and for development of individualized education programs. Each objective includes information on materials, behavioral criteria, and a chart to assess task analyzed steps. Four main skill areas are covered (sample…

Suggestions to make parents of children with disabilities more comfortable in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting include contacting parents personally before the meeting, having a school staff member greet the parents, appointing an "interpreter" to monitor educational jargon, and videotaping or audiotaping a few conferences to…

Skills for creating an atmosphere that enhances communication in the individualized education program (IEP) conference are discussed. Among suggestions are expressing major points in a clear and nonthreatening manner, beginning and ending the conference on a positive note, and using the parent's and child's names. (PHR)

This information sheet discusses the eligibility of students with both auditory and visual impairments for special education services, and the development of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). It describes the preparation necessary before the IEP team meeting and parent participation during the meeting. The process of developing an IEP is…

An inservice program entitled The Team Approach to Educational Decision-Making: Inservice for Multidisciplinary Teams is described. It provides instruction in team theory, communication skills, and problem-solving techniques to create more active and effective team participation in the Individual Education Program decision-making processes to meet…