This book is just what many educators have been looking for: (1) A product that provides teachers with practical and sensible solutions for students' problems with inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity; (2) A resource for teachers, behavior specialists, psychologists, counselors, and administrators who must document interventions; (3) A tool…

This article profiles Amanda Valentin, a 22-year-old woman with cerebral palsy who is a quadriplegic and nonverbal, who uses assistive technology to improve her life. The author was Amanda's assistive technology specialist who trained her to utilize software and hardware efficiently. She describes the steps she took to ensure that the assistive…

A popular term in contemporary special education circles is "empowerment," but what does it actually mean to be an empowered individual? Although many definitions exist in the literature and include such terms such as self-determination and self-advocacy, at the core of empowerment is the understanding that an individual is truly empowered the…

The topic of how best to serve English language learners (ELLs) with disabilities is an important one. The total population of ELLs, including those with disabilities, is rapidly increasing in schools. ELLs with disabilities can be found in rural, suburban, and urban districts. Some of the challenges of appropriately instructing these students may…

As every school administrator knows, the IEP is an integral part of meeting the needs of students with disabilities (Wright & Wright, 1999). It is the primary device through which communication takes place among parents, students, administrators, teachers, and other related service personnel regarding how the school plans to meet the requirements…

This article discusses teaching social skills and assertiveness to students with disabilities. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) content standards for physical education emphasize teaching responsible personal and social behaviors to students of all abilities, to help them develop an understanding of and respect for…

Current research and legislation show a need for special education instruction to be more closely aligned with general education curriculum and develop strategies that support the development of self determination skills in students with disabilities. The present study embeds self-determination skills of writing annual goals and objectives in the…

High expectations and appropriate standards for learning and achievement are important to any curriculum plan. The need for curriculum to meet developmental needs is particularly important for middle-level students. Middle-level students are unlike any other age group and are internally varied. Not all middle-level students need the same things at…

This paper discusses how preschool teachers can use observational and portfolio assessment techniques to evaluate both typical and special needs children in inclusive preschool classrooms. Explaining that portfolios can contain teacher observations, checklists of student activities, and samples of student work, it suggests techniques for…

These three modules, which were developed for use by instructors in a manufacturing firm's advanced technical preparation program, contain the materials required to present the safety section of the plant's adult-oriented, job-specific competency-based training program. The 3 modules contain 12 lessons on the following topics: lockout/tagout…

This paper addresses considerations inherent in the augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) decision-making process which are important for teachers and related services personnel who participate on Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams for students with disabilities. Specific dimensions discussed include characteristics of the…

This handbook provides information about implementing inclusive educational opportunities for high school students with significant cognitive disabilities in Manitoba (Canada) who require individualized programming within age-appropriate school and community environments. The handbook describes the process of applying the Individualized…

This resource manual contains conceptual and practical information about Iowa's Individualized Education Program (IEP) process and document. The resource manual's aim is greater consistency and higher quality in the implementation of the IEP process across Iowa. The manual is organized around the Iowa IEP prototype form, which consists of 10 pages…

This resource guide provides a rationale for collaboration among social agencies and answers some of the questions about cooperation and collaboration between Head Start programs and local school districts. Steps in the process in developing interagency agreements are outlined to assist local education agencies and Head Start programs in…

This document, designed to support Arizona's special education state plan, establishes minimum standards for Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), provides a measurement tool for determining compliance with federal and state requirements, and establishes criteria for determining appropriate placement in the least restrictive environment. The…