When the author learned that her daughter, Selah, had autism, she and her husband were shaken to the core and were terrified of what lay ahead of them. Selah's autism has redefined many things for them. In this article, the author describes her journey through autism with her deaf child.

This study examined the influence of gender on the transition goals and experiences of female students with disabilities. Data were gathered from 146 participants, including female youth with disabilities (n = 67), parents of young women with disabilities (n = 34), and professionals who work with them (n = 45). Findings suggest that females with…

This booklet highlights the important work of the more than 100 Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) and Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs) funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. The report includes data on the numbers of parents and professionals served by Parent Centers, outcomes of the…

The Individual Education Plan (IEP) process plays a vital role in the instructional process of the individual with ELN (exceptional leaning needs). The IEP process helps to level the playing field for students with ELN against those students that do not have diagnosed learning problems. From the parents to the students to the IEP staff, they all…

The characteristics of a state's accommodations policy may affect a state's decision about whether to develop an alternate assessment based on modified achievement standards (AA-MAS). A very restrictive accommodations policy may make it more difficult for some students to participate in the state's regular assessment used for accountability…

As a result of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA; 1990), public school districts are required to provide appropriate services to preschool students who are at risk or who are experiencing developmental delays. These services are frequently offered in preschool programs for children with disabilities (PPCDs). PPCDs are generally…

This study compared mathematics achievement in Illinois elementary schools using the "Everyday Math" and "Saxon Math" curricula. The Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) was used as the measure of student achievement. Multiple correlation analyses showed that the type of curriculum used was a significant predictor of…

Students with emotional and behavioral disorders (E/BD) receive educational and related services within a continuum of placement options per the Individual with Disabilities Education Act. The continuum of placement options ranges from fully included general education type classrooms to more restrictive environments such as alternative education…

Public Law 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, will require home economics teachers to participate in preparing individual educational programs for their handicapped students. The article gives requirements of the law and an example of a teacher-made check list for bathroom skills. (MF)

Research on the impact of the Project Approach on young children with disabilities or children who are at-risk is limited. Mixed methods were used to study the impact of the Project Approach on the social interactions, challenging behaviors, and language development of eight focal children in two inclusive classrooms. Child participants were two…

Poor parent participation in multidisciplinary team meetings can be a concern for parents and educators, as it might lead to less relevant and effective programs for students with disabilities. This study sought to extend the literature on parent participation in the Individual Education Program (IEP) process by investigating the relationship…

Transition services for secondary students with disabilities are defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) as a coordinated set of activities contained in a results-oriented process to improve educational and functional outcomes. The most popular strategy used to prepare secondary students with high-incidence…

Is it appropriate to write an individualized education program (IEP) for preschool students who are identified as gifted? In this article, the author shares that she does not condone the elimination of programs for truly gifted children. Her concern has to do with identifying 3-year-old children as intellectually gifted. Is the motivation for this…

The term three-tier model of intervention is a model consisting of three well-defined and separate processes running on different levels within a system. In New Mexico, this principle has been applied to develop a model of student intervention for school-aged students. The model has three distinct levels of instructional interventions that account…

Five areas are suggested for individualized instruction. (HB)