Comparison of the efficacy of integrating 41 elementary school students with moderate mental retardation into either regular classes, a special class with a community-based program, or a special class with a traditional developmental program found that, after 2 years, no single program was superior to the other 2. (Author/DB)

This paper evaluates two research projects concerned with conductive education for children with cerebral palsy, one in Germany and the other in the United Kingdom. Issues of generalizability and drawing causal conclusions are raised. The paper finds that neither the most sanguine expectations nor the worst misgivings about conductive education…

The effects of a criminal diversion project on recidivism rates are described for late-age adolescent defendants with learning disabilities (n=73). Recidivism rates were 12% for the project completers, 40% for noncompleters, and 38% for nontreated subjects. The importance of skill development and interventions targeted toward this population is…

This paper reviews the history of school-based alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs; summarizes problems with these approaches, such as not focusing on youths at high risk or with disabilities; offers a rationale for including parents in prevention programs; and discusses typical approaches to parent-involvement programs and major…

This paper reviews analytic methods for estimating growth curves or developmental trajectories from longitudinal data. Traditional models for studying change are contrasted with a relatively new method, hierarchical linear models. Evidence is presented indicating that hierarchical linear models can overcome some of the methodological limitations…

The Utah Elementary Integration Model places students with severe disabilities in neighborhood schools that provide supported integration in age-appropriate grade-level homerooms, peer-referenced and community-referenced curriculum, a transdisciplinary team approach, and data-based training in natural settings. Twenty-seven participants achieved…

This study of 14 children (ages 3-5) with disabilities participating in the Classwide Social Skills Program found that the program increased subjects' positive play and levels of teacher reinforcement, but these increases did not generalize to 3-month or 6-month follow-up periods nor to another play session in the day. (Author/JDD)

Evaluation of an "Understanding Learning Disabilities" (ULD) course at Lesley College (Massachusetts) concluded that the ULD course was effective in expanding learning-disabled students' knowledge base regarding their disability and in teaching them to apply their self-understanding in a social context. Moreover, students' performance on…

This study analyzed the efficacy of sensory integration treatment by combining data from a study of 96 Canadian children (29 from Alberta and 67 from Ontario children and all aged 5-8). Results indicate that the therapeutic effect of sensory integration treatment is not greater than other, more traditional methods of intervention. (Author/JDD)

This examination of the successful community placement of 15 medically fragile individuals with profound mental retardation and complex epilepsy found that simplification of anticonvulsants, early intervention for seizures, and improved staff education resulted in fewer seizures, decreases in emergency room visits for status seizures and…

Guidelines are presented for special educators designing a parent training program. The article includes a sample training format, a comparison of seven commercial parent training programs, and the identification of "best practices" in parent training (e.g., "group parents based on common need" and "establish clear goals"). (DB)

Investigates the effectiveness of a computer program that pronounces words for Scandinavian students with word decoding problems. Finds that second-grade children did not perform better on a reading comprehension test when using computer-aided reading and that older students benefited more than younger students. Discusses reasons for letting the…

This article describes Outcome Based Management components, including identifying highest level outcomes, targeting priorities, clarifying outcomes, maintaining stakeholder collaboration, declaring realities, producing stakeholder benefits, outlining needs, establishing rules, comparing results, productizing around outcomes, providing feedback,…

This article offers a way to build accountability by utilizing outcome relevant information along with outcomes to ensure relevance of evaluation results. It describes a process that incorporates use of logic models for comparing child, family, and community context for the program, the service delivery strategies, and expected outcomes. (Contains…

This article describes practical methods for agencies to move from a process to an outcomes focus when preparing and presenting reports to payers and regulators. Essential components of an outcomes system are outlined, and methods for preparing and presenting reports are drawn from experiences at Father Flanagan's Boy's Home. (Contains…