Describes the author's experiences in her team-taught multiage classroom (grades 4, 5, and 6) coping with the school district's implementation of a basal reader series. Discusses self-imposed changes versus mandated changes, and how she struggles to weave district mandates with her teaching beliefs and practices. (SR)

A father tells about his son with autism, who is now 26 years old, and describes how his son differs from the portrait of autism presented by professionals. The lessons he learned from his son and how his son helped him to become a more loving person are discussed. (Author/CR)

In this article, a woman who has high-functioning autism discusses her early years, her struggles with finding appropriate employment and her faith. Her movement from Roman Catholicism to Orthodox Christian is recounted, along with the way her religion has helped her through the many trials and tribulations in her life. (CR)

Interviews about their lives were conducted with six high-functioning adults with pervasive developmental disorder and their parents and/or siblings. Restricted interests played a significant role and provided a sense of well-being, however, following demands from their environment and social pressure, participants involved themselves in a process…

A study compared 27 participants with Angelman syndrome to clinical and community participants (n=948) with developmental disabilities of mixed etiology to determine whether Angelman syndrome is associated with a distinctive patterns of behavioral functioning. Those with Angelman syndrome had significantly lower scores on measures of irritability…

Examined in two studies the relation between multiple dimensions of parental support and stress for mothers and fathers of preschool children. Parenting stress included parenting hassles and perceived difficulties in helping the child acquire developmentally appropriate skills. Findings included that for mothers, kin support predicted fewer…

Examined how Asian American actors coped with the constraints of being minorities in an industry where physical appearance is crucial to success. Respondents' narratives reflected such coping strategies as not confronting issues of race, rationalizing that things are much better now for Asian American actors than in previous years, and believing…

A study of 18 families who adopted children with developmental disabilities found that nearly 12 years after their adoptions, families reported generally positive outcomes and good adjustment to their adopted children. Changes in the families were perceived as potential sources of reward as well as sources of stress. (Contains references.)…

Discusses the educational effects of social skills training on 14- to 16-year-old normal adolescents' social learning principles (social skills, self-esteem, well-being, and coping). Finds that the training was successful in several respects: (1) social anxiety decreased; (2) social activity increased; (3) self-esteem improved; and (4) used…

Investigates relationship of preventive and combative coping resources to appraisals and emotions produced by taking a new job. Graduate students participated by completing inventories measuring variables regarding their last employment experience. Results suggest that preventive coping resources may affect the appraised desirability of taking a…

The unconscious belief that everyone in society should be "normal" creates the pain of discrimination for those who are disabled. This narrative relates the author's personal experience of growing up disabled and her overcompensation for "Abelism." Learning to embrace the label "disabled" and make new choices provides…

The rise in the number of children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is discussed and information is offered on behaviors signaling the need for referral in very young children. Positive and negative effects of medications are discussed, along with specific behavioral coping strategies for both home and group care. (Contains…

Interviews with students at a state university (n=19) and technical college (n=12) showed that interests and work-related experiences frequently influenced career choices. Financial and social support factors impeded or supported choice implementation. Differences in perceived influences on choice and implementation may be related to environmental…

This study examined age and gender differences and similarities in stress responses to September 11th. Adolescents, young adults, and adults reported using a variety of strategies to cope with the terrorist attacks including acceptance, positive thinking, and emotional expression. In addition, involuntary stress responses such as physiological…

Type 2 diabetes is increasing among youth, with minority youth at highest risk. This preliminary study tested the feasibility of a school-based program to prevent type 2 diabetes in youth at risk. Forty-one participants (age 12.6 [+ or -] 1.1 years; 63% female, 51% African American, 44% Hispanic, and 5% Caucasian) were randomly assigned to one of…