Advances in medical technology have enabled more children who are medically fragile and technologically dependent to survive. Local school districts must determine whether a particular service is a "related service" covered by the Education for the Handicapped Act (EHA) or a "medical service" excluded under EHA. Reviews court…

A conceptual overview of the Regression Discrepancy Model (RDM) for assessing discrepancy between intelligence quotient and achievement scores is offered. Six RDM goals are identified, and figures from a RDM computer output show basic outcomes. Strengths and weaknesses of the RDM are discussed, without the use of complex mathematical descriptions.…

This case study provides early developmental data about a child later diagnosed as autistic. The report describes results of serial ultrasounds performed during the pregnancy, the complication of maternal diabetes, family history, high maternal stress levels, avoidance behaviors of the infant, and developmental delays exhibited especially in…

This paper presents data on contextual assessment issues, particularly in the area of communicative intent, that affect clinicians working with young children. Variables often overlooked in assessment are discussed, including task characteristics, opportunities available to the child, event context, maintaining joint attention, and responsivity.…

Because eligibility for speech-language services often is based on the relationship between the child's cognitive ability and language performance, this study examined the agreement of measurement practices used in the cognitive referencing model of eligibility determination. Administration of 5 measures to 26 preschool children with delayed…

Examines the effects of ethnicity on students, discussing how the meaning and practice of ethnic identity are shaped by school experiences. The article suggests ethnicity is negotiated across time and social situations, rather than solely from group membership. Daily social interaction mediates and reshapes institutionally produced social or…

Studies exchange disposition (a general inclination toward social interaction and sharing with other African Americans) as influenced by patterns of African-American cultural identity for 910 African-American college students. Those in nationalist phases of African-American cultural identity perceived themselves as least open to sharing with other…

Argues that little of what Michael L. Penn, Stanley O. Gaines, and Layli Phillips (1993) have to say in their article "On the Desirability of Own-Group Preference" about ethnic own-group preference is new and that it is distorted and naive interpretation of social history to carry on the tradition of blaming African Americans for the…

In examining the continuing problem of the disproportionate number of minority students in special education, this article urges implementation of experimentally validated interventions including: (1) early detection, primary interventions, and prereferral procedures and (2) academic as well as social competence, resiliency, and self-determination…

Discusses youth participation (YP) and adult mentorship in public libraries and Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA), highlighting teen writing opportunities in VOYA: book reviews; annual poetry contest; an occasional column relating teen culture to books, information, entertainment, media, and identity; and occasional lists of favorite teen music,…

Explores the role of communication in the strategic self-definition of "whiteness." Uses transcripts from two focus group interviews (with Whites from two historically Black universities) to map the discourses of "White" participants concerning the nature of "whiteness." Implies that the space Whites occupy is not clearly constructed and defined…

Investigates relationships between drawing skills of children ages four to eight and their ability to identify materials. Regression of measures of aesthetic drawing, developmental drawing, design making, symbol creation, and developed schemata found a positive correlation between total drawing scores and material identification scores; age…

Uses narratives of five female students of color in an urban high school to describe how students simultaneously participate in, and resist, school. Suggests organizing schools to maximize contact between school personnel and students and notes the importance of listening to students when formulating educational policy and practice. (SLD)

Examines early identification and intervention for students with learning disabilities in inclusive classrooms. Early signs of learning disabilities in motor, adaptive, communication and language, cognitive, and social-emotional skills are described. Techniques of functional assessment such as curriculum-based measurement, play assessment, and…

A case study of an adolescent with catatonia superimposed on autism is presented. The symptoms of the patient are highlighted and include abnormal social interactions, deficits in symbolic play and in communicative language, and occurrence of hallucinations and delusions. Treatment of the patient with clozapine and lorasepam is described. (CR)