An emerging theme in professional development for adult literacy program staff over the past decade has been the topic of learning disabilities (LD). As adult educators have come to recognize that the effects of LD can play a significant role in the performance and retention of adult learners, many have sought answers to the following questions:…

This issue brief discusses the benefits of mentoring for youth with disabilities and strategies for encouraging mentoring. It begins by discussing research that has demonstrated the effectiveness of mentoring and different types of mentoring, including a new model of electronic mentoring that is increasing in popularity. A chart shows how…

This guide is designed to provide Future Farmers of America (FFA) advisors with information to assist them in their efforts to include all youth in FFA, including those with disabilities. It addresses benefits of involving youth with disabilities and federal, state, and local legislation and regulations concerning people with disabilities.…

This final report discusses the outcomes of a project that created a Universal Access System (UAS), a system that gives students with disabilities access to the same computers as their classmates. The project developed a new approach in which the needs of the individual with disabilities are handled separately from the computers and other devices…

This final report presents activities and accomplishments of a three-year outreach project to link programs and agencies serving deaf and hard of hearing children and their families with child care programs in their communities. Each year project staff provided training in establishing integrated early childhood programming and child care for at…

A study was conducted to identify the literacy needs of adults with disabilities and to examine the extent to which these needs are being met by community-based adult basic literacy programs in the metropolitan Toronto, Ontario, Canada area. Data for the study were gathered through questionnaires used to interview 15 potential adult learners with…

This guide offers a collection of suggestions for teachers and parents of children with disabilities to maximize their access to the general curriculum. These include: the legal requirements concerning access to the general curriculum; principles of access to the general education curriculum; relevant Congressional findings; general education…

This issue describes promising research and development in the use of universal design principles to ensure curriculum access. It defines universal design and describes the differences between universal design and assistive technology. The activities of the Center for Applied Special Technology, the National Center to Improve the Tools of…

This resource packet includes information relating to the inclusion of people with disabilities in the Christian church. The first article, "Changing Attitudes, Creating Awareness," highlights several critical areas where churches can begin to understand the barriers of exclusion to people with disabilities. The following article, "Victim…

This report responds to requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended in 1998, concerning the accessibility of federal electronic and information technology to individuals with disabilities. It contains the results of the first executive branch-wide Section 508 evaluation and recommends specific inexpensive, cost-effective, and…

Examined the responsiveness of Kentucky's state colleges to federal directives and perceived social needs concerning handicapped persons' enrollment in higher education. Results showed that while institutions responded to handicapped students, the degree of adaptation was uneven. Housing opportunities remained limited, but special services,…

The majority of handicapped students can and should be integrated into the regular physical education program. Children who exhibit severe motor impairment should be placed in specialized programs. Segregated programs should develop sufficient levels of skill so that the child can be integrated into the regular program. (JN)

Although the spirit of the Rehabilitative Act of 1973 is laudable, many colleges have discovered more questions than answers in their attempts to comply with Section 504 without watering down their educational programs' quality. Colleges must creatively seek additional information for planning and implementation of admissions revisions. (MSE)

Handicapped college students view the attitudes of the nonhandicapped as the major barrier facing them. Other concerns include finding a rewarding career, architectual barriers and financial need. Faculty and students need to be aware of both the problems and contributions of the handicapped. (JAC)

Architectural drafting and building construction teachers need to become informed about barrier-free access. This information should be included in programs to give students experience and competence in this area. Industrial educators should assume a leadership role in training personnel to design and build a barrier-free environment. (JOW)