Describes a five-step process by which preschool teachers can meet the individual needs of all children, including those with disabilities, while maintaining a group instructional format. The process links assessment to curriculum, has planned teacher-directed individualized group instruction, implements behavior management techniques, and…

This study investigated four beginning special educators' problems of practice and the influence of the school context on teachers' abilities to solve their problems. Participants were troubled by issues related to instruction and curriculum, understanding the system, inclusion, and exhaustion. Teachers received little support from general…

Discusses strategies that support student self-determination in transition planning, including: holding high expectations for students, preparing students for transition meetings, allowing students to make important decisions, encouraging students to attend transition fairs, and providing opportunities for students to explore their communities and…

In this ethnographic study, narrative analysis was used to describe how four deaf women make sense of their lives as teachers. The women disclose their beliefs concerning teaching, their deafness, and their connection with the deaf community. The study notes the influence of the institutional cultures of both deaf and hearing communities and of…

Describes some adaptations made in a university physics laboratory course to accommodate a student with total visual impairment. (WRM)

Sociometric surveys were completed at third grade for a low-socioeconomic status, urban sample of African-American youth, and delinquency data were gathered at grades 6, 8, and 10. For boys, the additive effect of childhood peer rejection and aggression predicted more serious delinquency, whereas for girls only aggression predicted more serious…

Focuses on considerations that may be used to guide the development of functional-assessment training programs for preservice and inservice educators. Functional-assessment training domains are outlined and include content knowledge, attitudes and beliefs, supports and barriers, training needs and issues, and maintenance and generalization. (CR)

Reviews research that indicates the need to increase support for in-home care for infants with special needs, to examine the impact of current family leave regulations on infants with special needs in low income families, and to develop service delivery models that support early development across appropriate contexts. (Author/CR)

Highlights specific questions, concerns, and challenges faced by educators, parents, and students concerning assessment, accountability, accommodations, and alternate assessment. Examples of state assessment-accommodation policies are provided and reasons for providing test accommodations, requirements of Individualized Education Programs,…

This article provides some basic foundation of family systems concepts for school professionals who work with students with disabilities. It addresses communication skills and psychological issues that can result in barriers to implementation of family systems concepts and describes a five-step process leading to conflict resolution. (Contains…

A survey of 70 preservice special educators and 78 experienced special educators found the groups shared similar, negative perceptions regarding their general educator counterparts' skills to adapt general education curricula and to accommodate students' needs for statewide assessments. Groups differed in their beliefs regarding student…

This article summarizes the critical findings of recent research syntheses concerning intervention with students who have learning disabilities. The syntheses examined research on higher-order processing and problem- solving, reading comprehension, written expression, and grouping practices associated with improved outcomes in reading. Principles…

This article summarizes how an organization designed and implemented a quality improvement infrastructure and an effective outcomes-based management system. Stages included: assessing the organization's current status and planning for buy-in, initiating data collection, ensuring data integrity, utilizing data in clinical assessment and…

This article discusses provision of special education services in Botswana, mainstreaming students with disabilities, early childhood education of children with disabilities, teacher training services, teaching styles, and rehabilitation of people with disabilities in Botswana. The nine principles of the National Policy on Care for People with…

This study examined the impact of parental involvement on four outcomes for 28 young children with hearing loss. Although parental involvement was a significant positive predictor of early reading skills, maternal communication skill and the child's degree of hearing loss were more significant predictors for positive language and academic…