A phenomenological study of seven teenagers with physical disabilities attending a regular secondary school focused on social integration and the factors influencing it. Results showed extrinsic and intrinsic factors that facilitate or limit integration. Occupational therapists can ensure that schools are inclusive and that clients are capable of…

Staff training at inclusive camps should include disability awareness exercises such as having counselors get around camp in a wheelchair. Techniques for handling health issues and helping campers through transitions are presented. During camp, have enough staff or volunteers to support campers with special needs. Disability awareness exercises…

This article highlights the debut of a new three-digit number for access to all Telecommunication Relay Services. Under new federal rules, 711 dialing must be provided by all U.S. telecommunication carriers, including wireline, wireless, and payphone providers. In addition, carriers are required to publicize the availability of 711 access. (CR)

This fact sheet discusses the Speech to Speech (STS) free telephone service that provides communication assistants (CAs) for people who have difficulty being understood by the public on the telephone. Unlike telecommunications devices, STS enables people with speech disabilities who have difficulty typing to communicate by voice through CAs. (CR)

Institutions of higher education and Counseling Education Programs (CEs) use the World Wide Web to disseminate and gather information. On-line barriers limit the accessibility of the WWW for students with disabilities. This study evaluates the accessibility of CE home pages. Results indicated that most (81.7%) CE home pages had accessibility…

This article discusses the underemployment of individuals with visual impairments and technological barriers to employment. It then presents an overview of legislation, public and private rehabilitation agency programs, and federal agency programs that have an impact on the distribution and use of assistive technology to individuals with…

Hearing-impaired high school students created a simulated world where sign language was the dominant mode of communication, and role-played such careers as doctors, bankers, and police officers. Hearing students were invited to visit this simulated world and found how inaccessible various facilities and services were to people without sign…

Discusses problems facing persons with disabilities; provides a history of legislative advocacy efforts, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); considers how the ADA will impact upon negative attitudes; and describes what public libraries need to know to comply with the ADA. (Contains 17 references.) (LRW)

This article summarizes provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act in light of how they may affect children. It specifically addresses requirements for reasonable accommodations by employers and increased accessibility to public services. A "fact sheet" insert lists relevant phone numbers (enforcement agencies and information…

Projects of the Foundation for Technology Access are described, such as the Alliance for Technology Access and the Computer Classroom Integration Demonstration. The resource section lists, by state, over 150 resource centers of the Alliance for Technology Access, RESNA, and the Council for Exceptional Children. (JDD)

Rural disability and rehabilitation services suffer from problems of equity and efficacy. The most relevant approach to rural human-services planning is one in which available resources are organized and managed to produce the best results. Barriers to rural rehabilitation include too few rehabilitation personnel, inadequate transportation, and…

Innovations in equipment and changes in social attitudes are tearing down barriers to sports participation for individuals with disabilities. Many people still do not know about the array of opportunities available, and physicians are uniquely positioned to help them discover the sporting events and fitness options open to them. (SM)

Colleges and universities must be aware of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the consequences of noncompliance. However, the legislation is so new that colleges and universities are forced to rely on interpretations of similar laws. Discusses the terms "qualified individual,""disability," and "reasonable…

The National Center on Educational Outcomes offers guidelines for including students with disabilities when identifying outcomes, assessing students, defining acceptable performance, and reporting on schools' progress in meeting outcomes. Schools should include all students in their accountability and data collection programs. All students have…

Discusses access to digital library collections and considers the users' needs and expectations, search strategies, cataloging as a collection or as individual items, improving accessibility for users with disabilities, and customizing access. Also provides a list of useful Web links. (LRW)