The document contains edited versions of sessions from the 1981 Special Study Institute, the fourth in a series designed initially for state education consultants for the visually handicapped. Objectives of the 1981 Institute are listed--to establish coordination, communication, and cooperation among teacher trainers; to develop interagency coordination skills; and to develop a regional plan for improving educational programs for visually handicapped students within that region. Following an introductory section, section 2 contains papers titled "Special Education Legislation" (J. Ballard), "Categorical Legislation (I. Schloss), "State Funding Perspective" (W. Wilkin), and "From the Legislator's Point of View" (C. Kinsey). Responses from J. Hazekamp, H. Pace, R. Silberman, and J. Todd are offered. A third section on creative options for quality service delivery covers presentations titled "Tapping into Volunteerism" (S. McCurley), "Tapping the Private Sector" (I. Bord), and "Professionals' Responsibility for Advocacy" (S. Negrin). Seven papers in a fourth section include: "The Specialist Approach" (J. Hazekamp), "The 'Generalist' Consultant" (D. Livingston-White), "The Commission Approach" (L. Young), "Maximizing the IRC's--Instructional Resource Centers" (J. Todd), "Power of Parents" (L. Robinson), "Interagency Cooperation" (S. Spungin), and "State Strategies" (P. Williams, Jr.). A final section contains five major suggestions for becoming politicaly involved, including getting members for the coalition and getting parents and clients, as well as professional paid workers, involved in the political process. Appendixes contain a list of Institute participants and a chart with national and regional programs outlining specific objectives, activities, a time line, resources needs, and evaluation methods. (SW)