Article provides information regarding amended Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the impact of those changes on children's education rights. Some changes and practice implications discussed include expansion of categories of children with disabilities; new requirements for mobile, homeless, or culturally diverse populations and…

Responses from 140 of 323 state agencies indicated the following: only 13% use formal needs assessment for 80% of their training; 39% survey employees about their needs; 31% depend on management mandates; group discussion and lecture were most often used methods; and 47% do not assess employees' job performance after training. (SK)

Surveys of 181 Mexican American grandparents, 148 parents, and 173 grandchildren found the following: Spanish-speaking grandparents had greater information needs than English speakers and experienced more frustration dealing with adolescents than with younger grandchildren. Length of time spent with grandchildren increased effectiveness in the…

Responses from 159 of 837 health and mental health professionals in Alaska showed the following: (1) 54% said community services for the aging were inadequate; (2) 55% felt health professionals' knowledge of aging was insufficient; and (3) 91.8% needed further training in aging and geriatrics, especially regarding mental health and Alzheimer's…

Responses from 59 of 67 Florida county extension directors identified professional development needs of extension specialists: (1) understanding client needs; (2) producing appropriate educational materials; (3) delivering inservice training to county extension agents; (4) evaluating state programs; and (5) increasing interaction at the local…

Family medicine physicians were surveyed about their knowledge of substance abuse and wishes for continuing education. Results showed 10% had no substance abuse training in medical school, 15% had none during residency, and 21% had no continuing education on substance abuse. Most preferred continuing education programs as part of an annual…

Explains how trainers can assess their own competencies and learning needs, citing web resources useful for career development. (SK)

Presents a rationale for conducting training needs assessment and discusses types of analyses: organizational, task, and individual. Compares advantages and disadvantages of the following assessment methods: surveys, interviews, performance appraisals, observations, tests, assessment centers, focus groups, document reviews, and advisory…

In response to a critique (EC 231 995) of the research bases of his three-ring conception of giftedness, the author notes selectivity and bias in the critic's methodology, raises larger issues (such as equity) underlying identification and programing for the gifted, and discusses the role of theory and the need for action. (DB)

Describes categories of special-needs learners: cognitive disabilities, physical disabilities, sensory disabilities, emotional disabilities, medical impairments, and homeless persons. Makes suggestions for adult educators dealing with the learning needs of these groups. (SK)

Looks at the education needs of nurse executives and nurse managers and compares them to the typical education provided in nursing administration programs. Concludes that educators need to be directly involved in hospital settings in order to update nursing administration education. (JOW)

The assumptions of career education for intellectually and academically gifted students are examined with reference to new research about the characteristics of these students. It is suggested changes in career education in gifted programs are warranted. Discussion relates four initiatives for changes to the issues of careerism and…

The Career Concerns Inventory was administered to 300 sales and marketing trainers. Analysis of 149 responses revealed that training needs differ at different career stages; common core of training needs exists; and 31 competencies identified by American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) were validated, but no relationship was found…

The article discusses braille instruction for blind persons from the perspective of the National Federation of the Blind. A case study of a child whose parents have struggled to obtain braille instruction is examined. Negative attitudes about blindness and inadequate training of teachers are linked to decreased braille literacy. (Author/DB)

Examines barriers to conventional education and explains how distance education can fill the niche markets created by these barriers. Curriculum barriers and economic barriers are discussed; core attributes of distance education are described; and planning for niche markets is addressed based on the core attributes. (Contains five references.)…