This report describes findings of a project to identify promising school-based practices in evaluation and intervention with children having attention deficit disorders (ADD). Introductory material explains the project's purposes and procedures. The next chapter provides an overview of the 26 promising practices identified through nominations by…

This report addresses states' definitions and assessment guidelines for the category of traumatic brain injury, newly identified as a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Information sources included state policy documents from 19 states and interviews with state education agency personnel. A background section…

This guide provides adolescents with information on depression. An introduction discusses symptoms of depression and lists famous people who were known to be depressed. Part 1, "What's Wrong," explores how it feels to be depressed, the causes and types of depression, and the connections between depression, suicide, and drug and alcohol abuse. A…

This guidebook was developed to assist Wisconsin parents, educators, and other professionals who deal with young children in the early identification of hearing problems. Section 1 provides an overview of the topic and discusses the importance of early identification and treatment of hearing problems. Section 2 examines state and federal laws,…

This study compared scores on the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT) of 50 seventh and eighth grade students receiving instruction in regular classroom settings and 50 seventh and eighth grade students receiving instruction in special education resource room settings. Scores from five test components were examined, including: Total Reading, Total…

Learning disabled (N=78) and educable mentally retarded (N=47) elementary students, when taught by teachers whose certification matched child label, did not make significantly greater gains than when instructed by teachers with licenses not matching pupil label. The data support a noncategorical service delivery model with implications for student…

St. Martin Hall, a demonstration school affiliated with Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas, collaborated with the Harry Jersig Center to test students for speech and language difficulties or hearing loss. A significant number of the children were from economically disadvantaged homes. Most of the children were Hispanic.…

This digest discusses the most frequently diagnosed mood disorders in children and adolescents, including major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder. The symptoms of these disorders are described, along with family and genetic causal factors, biological causal factors, and cognitive causal factors. The digest then…

American Indian and Alaska Native students with limited English proficiency are overrepresented in special education programs. This digest briefly reviews the legislation and literature pertaining to the influence of language and culture in making referrals, administering assessments, and providing appropriate services to Native students.…

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 factsheet describes the different mental, emotional, and behavior problems that can occur during childhood and adolescence. The incidence and symptoms of the following disorders are discussed: (1) anxiety disorders (including phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder);…

This guide is intended to provide parents, administrators and service providers in Iowa with information needed to access and implement early childhood special education (ECSE) programs and services for children with disabilities from birth through age five. Section 1 provides an overview of ECSE in Iowa, including the program rationale, program…

This paper reports the outcomes of a study that utilized descriptive, qualitative methods and a series of case studies to investigate how students are diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorders, specifically Asperger syndrome under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The study focuses on students attending elementary schools in…

This volume offers 12 readings which attempt to synthesize key ideas underlying a shift toward functional and noncategorical approaches to special education in light of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997. The chapters are: (1) "Origins of Categorical Special Education Services in Schools and a Rationale for…

This report discusses policies and practices for family-directed child evaluation and assessment under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The scope of the report includes practices across the early childhood spectrum, from birth through 5 years. Commonly used terminology is defined. Issues discussed include: the primacy of…