Every parent is filled with dreams, fears, hopes, and questions when preparing a child for school--and when that child has a disability, this exciting time can seem overwhelming. This upbeat, reassuring handbook is an invaluable resource to share with parents of a school-age child with a disability. It demystifies complicated issues, encourages…

The Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) conducted a trend analysis of students from four designated groups--Aboriginal, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, and women in predominantly male occupations. These students were compared to the overall student population on four success measures: access to…

This congressional report contains testimony pertaining to reauthorization of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, which was drafted to authorize funds for programs covered by the act and consolidate, coordinate, and improve employment, training, literacy, and vocational rehabilitation programs in the United States. Statements were provided by three…

This book is intended to facilitate the meaningful inclusion of students with disabilities in district and state assessments as required by the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. First, an introductory chapter offers reasons for including students with disabilities in district and statewide accountability systems.…

This report describes the findings of two half-day focus group meetings that discussed experiences and concerns about the participation of students with disabilities in Minnesota's Basic Standards Exams. The focus groups included test coordinators, general classroom teachers, and special education teachers. The report discusses: (1) experiences…

This self-study guide is intended to help in understanding issues of ethnicity in special education in the context of increasing interest by the federal Office for Civil Rights in the overrepresentation of minority students, especially black students, in special education classes. Part 1 provides a brief overview of the topic of disproportionate…

Intended as a reference guide for early childhood special education personnel in North Dakota, this guide addresses required and recommended practices related to the delivery of services to children with disabilities, ages 3 through 5, and their families. The guide was developed by 50 specialists including parents and reflects all segments of the…

For several years, Weaver High School (Hartford, Connecticut) has used a grant to fund the services of a consultant to provide information and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Weaver has a program that allows students with multiple disabilities to be part of the school program and all activities. Activities have provided…

The purpose of this study was to discern African American mothers' cultural models for their experiences receiving early intervention services for their young children with disabilities. Fifteen mothers were interviewed and the records of their children were examined. Findings were organized by 3 conceptual themes: how the mothers handled their…

This study examined the variety of service delivery models being used to provide services to infants and toddlers with disabilities in nine communities across three states (Colorado, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania). Information was derived primarily from focus groups and interviews conducted with community early intervention program…

The 16 chapters comprising this manual are intended to provide a practical guide for meeting the needs of ventilator-assisted children. Chapters have the following titles and authors: (1)"Spectrum of Care" (Virginia Simson Nelson and Lynn E. Driver); (2) "Long-Term Airway Management for the Ventilator-Assisted Child" (Ann Marie…

This report examines issues concerning the participation of students with disabilities in state and district assessments and offers principles and recommendations for increasing their participation. This report suggests that 85 percent of students with disabilities could participate either in the regular assessments or by using accommodations and…

This study surveyed special education teachers teaching eighth and ninth grade students in 27 Minnesota school districts to determine how decisions were made on the inclusion of children with disabilities in the 1997 administration of Minnesota's Basic Standards Test and what accommodations were provided and desired. Analysis of the 259 responses…

This report reviews the current literature (mostly since 1993) on testing accommodations for students with disabilities, with an emphasis on studies examining the effects of testing accommodations on the technical integrity of assessment measures. The report notes a continuing lack of empirical research on testing accommodations, but evidence of…

This report presents goals and recommendations for meeting the special education needs (SEN) of students with disabilities in England by the year 2002. Sections of the report address: (1) policies for excellence, which discuss the definition of SEN, early identification and early intervention, improving literacy and numeracy, school improvement…