The overall purpose of this Report is to present the findings of the "National Dispute Resolution Use and Effectiveness Study" conducted by the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE), under subcontract with Consortium for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE), regarding the use and…

This final report discusses the activities and outcomes of a 3-year federally funded project that investigated the effectiveness of a collaborative teaming process to increase the academic achievement and social participation of elementary students with augmentative and alternative (AAC) needs who were members of general education classrooms. The…

This study explored how key shareholders (student, parents, educators, and employers) can merge Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals with employers' expectations to improve the chance of successful transitioning from student to employee. A survey was conducted of 26 parents, teachers-of-service (TOS), teachers-of-record (TOR), transition…

A survey was conducted to investigate special education teaching conditions. A total of 246 special education teachers, 158 special education administrators, 110 principles, and 72 regular education teachers responded to survey questions that addressed the availability of appropriate materials, the provision of suitable physical facilities, the…

This paper discusses the difficulties many school districts have in fully complying with the assistive technology requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), especially the broadened requirement in IDEA 97 to consider the need for assistive technology in developing each Individualized Education Program for students with…

This guide for parents explains the changes in the federal special education law resulting from the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Changes related to the parent's role in decisions about the child's education and in how schools can discipline special education students are highlighted. A…

This booklet summarizes Part 4 of Great Britain's 1996 Education Act, which replaces the 1993 Education Act in name, though not in substance. The main aspects of the Act are identified first and include a Code of Practice for schools and local education agencies (LEAs), a time limit for identifying and assessing students with special needs, and…

This paper reports on the development of a set of four family outcomes concerned with the measurement of child growth and development as part of a 5-year project by the Early Childhood Research Institute on Measuring Growth and Development to develop a comprehensive assessment model for young children, birth to age 8, with disabilities. It first…

This text provides principles and practical applications to facilitate the inclusion of student with disabilities in general physical education classes. Chapter 1 identifies characteristics of a quality physical education program. Chapter 2 reviews the history of inclusion and defines key characteristics of inclusion. Chapter 3 is on collaborative…

This booklet is one of a series designed to assist early childhood general educators, early childhood special educators, related service providers, parents, administrators, and others in understanding what the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) now requires for young children with disabilities ages birth through 5 years and their…

This study examined the continuation and duration of related services provided for children transitioning from early childhood special education (ECSE) to the school-age setting (i.e., kindergarten) particularly the post-ECSE special education services provided. Data provided by 69 educators (administrators and special education coordinators) in…

This brochure discusses the role of the parent of a child with a disability in assistive technology considerations. It describes assistive technology devices and services for a child with a disability, and provides information on the following areas: (1) the consideration of assistive technology during the Individualized Education Program (IEP);…

This booklet is designed to assist families, child care providers, and advocates in planning and delivering child care for children with disabilities and special health care needs. The booklet defines the term inclusion and discusses common misconceptions about children with special needs and disabilities. It explains what the Americans with…

This document is a synthesis of literature from 1997-2002 on the individualized education program (IEP), a core component of federal and state laws on the education of students with disabilities. The first section identifies the significant changes related to the IEP in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997. The…

Research traced the flow of such events as faculty development, school district initiatives, state and federal policies, student experience, and systems changes in Montpelier (Vermont) High School over six years to identify patterns of activities that supported growing reform. To understand how community-based learning (CBL) for a few students…