Calls for a team approach to meeting the vocational needs of handicapped learners. Emphasizes the need for a multi-disciplinary approach to vocational programing. Specifies the competencies necessary to facilitate a team effort and provides an example of a cooperative approach to the individualized education programs. (Editor/CT)

The author addresses the legal nature of parental participation in the education of handicapped children, with particular attention to involvement in the individualized education program (IEP) process as mandated by P.L. 94-142 (the Education for All Handicapped Children Act). (SW)

The author looks at problems involving parents of handicapped children in the educational decision making process and suggests areas of needed research. Mediation is suggested as a means to keep parents involved in decision making and to reduce the adversarial and costly nature of due process hearings. (SB)

A model for mainstreaming handicapped students into special subject programs progresses from the formative stage (including student identification and teacher consultation) to the process stage (including joint writing of the individualized education program), to the summative stage (where student progress is monitored and feedback given to…

Describes a decision analytic approach for multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) in planning special service programs. Presents evaluation information on its application by MDTs in planning individualized education programs, and outlines a six-step process. Suggests utilization of approach allows a complex program planning situation to be disaggregated…

Offers an integrative model for mainstreaming handicapped children into reading classrooms. Discusses nondiscriminatory assessment, the development of individualized education programs, and the factors to emphasize in implementing mainstreaming. (FL)

A classroom communication system is described whereby the teacher of a handicapped student can manage the classroom activities conducted by other disciplines as stipulated for the child's individualized educational program. Samples of the weekly planning sheet, individual sequence sheets, and data/progress sheets for learners are provided. (CL)

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…

Describes the mainstreaming efforts of the Madison (Wisconsin) School District, where every moderately and severely retarded student is instructed in four curricular areas: vocational, community, leisure recreational, and domestic. (LRA)

A three-stage formal identification procedure is recommended to assure identification of those gifted and talented students who need alternative programing. Following identification of a student, an individual student plan, including such information as a justification for the time the student will lose from the regular curriculum, should be…

Through naturalistic observational procedures, the study examined the dynamics of individualized education program (IEP) conferences involving parents of handicapped elementary grade students. Participants present, the nature and frequency of topics discussed, and the length of conferences were considered. (Author/SBH)

To help preservice teachers gain an emotional understanding of the feelings of handicapped students who are separated from their classmates because of their individualized educational programs (IEPs), letters were sent to the class explaining that the three lowest scorers on the next exam would be given IEPs and placed in a separate section of the…

The text of a conversation with a Florida special education administrator explores such aspects as the skills that are being tested, how standards were derived, the effects of testing on curricula, special diplomas, and the improvement in scores noted in the second year of the testing. (DLS)

In passing the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997, Congress tackled tough issues regarding educating students with disabilities. This article addresses four changes to IDEA and their implications for secondary principals, including suspension of handicapped students without educational services, development of…

Describes a Web-based application developed by InfoHandler.com of Carrboro, North Carolina, that makes paperwork for special educators quicker and easier, allowing more time for student instruction. (EV)