Congressional intent and regulations, and court decisions interpreting the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, recognize the preference for mainstreaming handicapped children. Cases discussed indicate that mainstreaming is secondary to the goal of the Act to provide an appropriate education that meets the unique needs of each handicapped…

This article examines the contextual, conceptual, and empirical foundations of functional behavioral assessment (FBA) in general educational settings. The need for schools to design effective responses to increases in individual problem behavior and the need to be compliant with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act are discussed.…

Assistive Technology (AT) devices and services have been legally mandated for several years. However, the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Act Amendments P.L. 105-17 (IDEA1997), which states that every student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) must be considered for AT, had enormous implications impacting approximately six…

This report reviews and compares the legal rights of students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The first and second sections detail the statutory framework of the laws and legal requirements pertaining to eligibility, identification, and local and…

This staff brief is designed to help policymakers make recommendations for the improvement in educational and related services provided to visually impaired children and adults in the state by public school districts, the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped (WSVH), and other educational agencies. Part 1 provides a brief overview of…

School-to-work transition helps at-risk youth secure and maintain employment and an adult life-style. Transition focuses on individual characteristics, training needs, and choices that result in the development of realistic long-range goals and selection of appropriate programs and services. Effective school-to-work transition necessitates a wide…

The text presents six chapters on the legal and governmental bases of special education. In the Introduction, F. Weintraub and J. Ballard cite the legislative and litigative history of P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, and briefly address information sources on such policy issues as procedural safeguards, underserved…

Eleven brief articles focus on specific learning disabilities with emphasis on programs in New York State and City. Articles have the following titles and authors: "The History of Learning Disabilities Revisited" (J. Wiederholt, G. Hale); "The Learning in Learning Disability--Ask What, Not Why" (R. Schworm) which stresses the…

Public Laws 94-142 and 99-457 mandate the provision of surrogate parents to represent parentless disabled children in acquiring educational services. Described are the rights and responsibilities of surrogate parents, their role in case conferences and in development of individualized education programs, and the activities of the Indiana Surrogate…

The United States Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is 30 years of age. IDEA affords individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities (through age 21) a free appropriate public education, an individualized education plan, and many accommodations in an attempt to include those with disabilities in the educational experience.…

This booklet for Minnesota parents of children with disabilities provides an overview of special education services. Information is provided on: (1) the purpose of special education; (2) disabilities that are covered under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; (3) eligibility age; (4) types of special education and related services; (5)…

This guide is intended to offer suggestions for enhancing educational opportunities for young children in Iowa with special needs in the least restrictive environment (LRE) as required by both state and federal law in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as amended in 1997 (IDEA 97). Emphasis is on IDEA 97's definition and…

This technical assistance document is intended to offer Oregon districts and agencies guidance in understanding and implementing the regulations dealing with behavioral supports, interventions, and disciplinary actions for students with disabilities who are eligible under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It is comprised of…

This publication is designed to help educators understand the purpose and meaning of the functional behavioral assessment process and how to identify and assess the behavior of students with disabilities. It shows how to develop and write effective behavior intervention plans using data collected during the functional assessment and presents many…

This guide is intended to provide information to Massachusetts school districts and families regarding the availability of, access to, and payment mechanisms for assistive technology devices and services. The first section answers 13 questions concerning topics such as the difference between an assistive technology device and an assistive…