Analysis of a sample of 84 speech acts in everyday discourse referring to mental retardation identified four themes: (1) the discourse of category membership, (2) the dichotomy of normal and abnormal, (3) issues of place and space, and (4) fear. Results suggest how speech acts construct mental retardation and devalue individuals with the label.…

Examines relationships between acceptance of disability and demographic characteristics, disability conditions, and other psychological factors in a sample of adults with disabilities. Finds that self-esteem and emotional support from family had a positive impact on acceptance, perceived discrimination had a negative impact, and type of disability…

Discusses the major components of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 applicable to day care facilities. Offers guidelines for admitting disabled children, and for determining whether an accommodation is reasonable or an unreasonable burden. Considers an ADA case involving discrimination against a diabetic child for insights into the…

A study investigated the expressed advice of 76 parents, 38 elementary school teachers, and 21 deaf community leaders regarding careers for students with deafness in Sweden. Despite many advances in the country, communication in the language of the greater society was a potent factor in limiting occupational possibilities. (Contains nine…

This article discusses the movement toward focusing on the individual rather than the disabling condition when referring to people with disabilities and contrasts acceptable and unacceptable terminology for people with different types of disabilities. The terms "impairment,""disability," and "handicap" are defined. (CR)

Previous findings on employer knowledge about learning disabilities were compared to 25 employers from Pennsylvania and Virginia. Findings indicate that employers are continuing to make efforts to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 regulations but have little knowledge or experience with it in terms of learning disabilities.…

The unconscious belief that everyone in society should be "normal" creates the pain of discrimination for those who are disabled. This narrative relates the author's personal experience of growing up disabled and her overcompensation for "Abelism." Learning to embrace the label "disabled" and make new choices provides…

Presents a brief overview of the sociological forces shaping the discourse of disability; examines the part that public libraries have played, or failed to play, in addressing issues of exclusion as they relate to people with disabilities. Focuses on Australia's deaf community and its particular informational needs. The low impact of the…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the experiences of stigma-related discrimination in 50 Puerto Rican and Mexican single mothers of young children with disabilities. Mothers were interviewed on issues related to raising a child with disabilities. This was a preliminary exploration of the stories mothers told specifically related to…

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a civil rights law that applies to all school districts nationwide. Despite its wide coverage, there is a dearth of research on how the law is implemented. This study presents the results of an exploratory investigation of Section 504 practices with 154 special education directors in one…

This paper outlines the changing employment climate and shift in attitudes towards disabled people who are expected to become economically active in order to fulfill their role as responsible citizens. We briefly describe the employment profile of disabled people and reiterate the combination of factors identified in shaping progression into the…

This audit report focuses on transportation costs and practices incurred by the Preschool Handicapped Education Program for counties outside of New York City from July 1, 1994 through March 31, 1998, and addresses the level of cooperation between counties and the State Education Department. The report also includes recommendations for improvement…

H.R. 5490 (98th Congress, Second Session) has been offered as an answer to the Supreme Court's ruling in "Grove City College v. Bell" (1984) that Title IX's sex discrimination prohibitions are program-specific, not institution-specific. It would also amend three other statutes prohibiting discrimination in Federally funded programs on…

Data gathered from a sociometric survey of 177 fifth and sixth grade children, including 22 who were learning disabled (LD), indicated that LD children were less popular in general than non-LD children, that no LD children were extremely popular, but that LD children were not overly represented among social isolates. (Author/IM)