This serial issue features articles on the theme of empowering people with disabilities. First, there is a message from the Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services' Assistant Secretary, Robert R. Davila. Next, "Empowerment: Dependence versus Independence," by Frank G. Bowe, stresses the need for people with disabilities to incorporate empowerment and choices into their thinking. "The Road to Personal Freedom," by Carole Royal, describes a model self-determination program of the Protection and Advocacy System of New Mexico. "We Can! Empowerment of People Who Are Deaf," by Patti Singleton, examines principles of empowerment arising from the 1988 protest at Gallaudet University (District of Columbia). "Empowerment through Sports," by Doug Single, describes various integrated programs developed by Special Olympics. "Project EMPOWER: Self Determination for Young Adults with Disabilities," by Jack Campbell, describes a program that uses experiential education activities and role modeling by adults with disabilities to help youths make the transition to adult life. "Empowerment through Peer Counseling," by Dale S. Brown, offers techniques in peer counseling and examples of its use with young people with learning disabilities. "Improving the Quality of Community Living To Empower People with Mental Retardation," by Charles Lakin, describes activity areas of the Research and Training Center for Residential Services and Community Living at the University of Minnesota. A special feature article is "Empowering Teachers To Help Students with Language Disorders in the Mainstream" (Judith M. Zorfass and Blanche Korngold). This article reports on a study which used a constructivist inservice approach to produce changed teaching practices in 10 teachers of grades 1-3, thereby facilitating language learning in children with language disorders. (DB)