Support services for students with disabilities is now a distinct field of practice in higher education, with a significant increase in the number of students receiving services, programs to serve them, and professionals who oversee the programs. The field has professional and program standards, a code of ethics, and a disability service specific…

Beyond realising the right of children and young people to be heard in routine interactions, there is much scope for research with (rather than on) children. This is particularly pertinent in the field of inclusive education where there is potential for the voice of children and young people to be a lever for change and to promote inclusive…

This commentary on the research articles published in volume 16, issue 3 of "Remedial and Special Education" makes several points, including: "interpretivist" approaches do not rely on exactly the same assumptions, a variety of paradigmatic assumptions will increase the value of research and knowledge that is generated, and it…

The review discusses the methodology for the literature search which divulged 53 studies on arts and various handicaps; analyzes study topics such as figure drawing assessment as a diagnostic tool; and comments on research problems, exemplary studies, and needs for future research. It also charts methodological components of 19 visual arts…

Three criticisms of family-centered models of early intervention for individuals with disabilities are put forth: the definition of family is indeterminate; early interventionists bring their own conceptions of the meaning of family to their work; and empirical research about family processes and their relationship to individuals' development is…

A case is made that the term "science" in reference to special education is misused, and that the methods of empiricist science are inappropriately applied to the study of special education. Article concludes that many of the criticisms leveled at special education can be traced back to this misunderstanding of science. (Author/CR)

Research on childhood disability views disabled children as passive and dependent and excludes the voice of disabled children themselves. Because research has been preoccupied with impairment, vulnerability, and service usage, it has concealed disabled children's role as social actors. New approaches to disability and to childhood are needed to…

The paper analyzes 27 studies to identify guidelines for conducting follow-up or follow-along studies of special education students in transition from school into adult communities. Methodological principles should cover subject sampling, breadth of domains examined, variable specification, instrument development, and other areas. A specific model…

A review of the empirical research literature on Social Stories[TM] is presented, including a descriptive review and single-subject meta-analysis of appropriate studies. Examination of data suggests the effects of Social Stories[TM] are highly variable. Interpretations of extant studies are frequently confounded by inadequate participant…

This paper cites modest beneficial effects of early intervention for children with developmental disabilities or children at risk, and examines two specific program features, age of start and family involvement. The moderating influence of the level of disability severity is also analyzed, and future directions for improving early intervention…

A winner of the Council for Exceptional Children Research Award reflects on the enabling effect of a supportive context for research, lessons learned relating to career successes and failures, and the value of applied research. The need develop a program of long-term research is discussed. (Contains references.) (CR)

This paper deals with future research needs and problems in learning disabilities, and is divided into the following two broad categories: (1) supporting conditions, which involve necessary prerequisites to the research effort; and (2) procedural considerations, which deal with methodological concerns. First, the problems posed by supporting…

Research consumers, both individuals and groups, can benefit or lose from early intervention research endeavors, and their needs and priorities should be considered. Researchers' decisions and actions create consumer winners and losers in three areas of research activity: conceptualization of research, design of research studies, and dissemination…

Reviews and discusses definitions of risk for disabilities and methods for predicting risk. Maintains that longitudinal and other types of studies have been used to resolve the difficulties in defining, identifying, and prioritizing at-risk children. Discusses the use of developmental epidemiological methods as an effective way to identify…

This exploration of the future of research in special education identifies components of "good research" and reasons for the existence of poor quality research. It cites the difficulty in identifying links between research findings and innovations in practice. Factors that will influence the future of research in special education are noted, such…