This article examines the undesirable social and vocational ramifications associated with the use of a single high-stakes test to assess the academic proficiencies of students with disabilities and the present discriminatory nature of the required performance on one standardized exam. Alternative assessments are discussed. (Contains references.)…

A Japanese psychologist and educator describes special education in Japan and the Movement for the Coeducation of the Handicapped with the Nonhandicapped in Neighborhood Schools. Influenced by mainstreaming policies in western countries, the Coeducation Movement calls for an end to handicapped student segregation and advocates student…

The rapid adoption of graphic user interface (GUI), as indicated by Microsoft's Windows95 and the Internet's increased use of graphics, is threatening information technology opportunities for people with disabilities. Recent legislation requires that schools provide access to computers and information technology, and producers of Mosaic are…

Research and personal experiences suggest that women in general, and more specifically women from diverse ethnic and social class backgrounds and women with disabilities, do not have equal opportunities to experience the outdoor world. Discusses some obstacles to access and some measures for dissolving these barriers. Cites the National…

This article argues that the trend toward supported employment and transition services still rests on a dependency model of disability. It proposes a model of education for the empowerment of full citizenship in which persons with disabilities are seen as one of many groups disadvantaged by current social prejudice and exclusion. (DB)

The attitudes of 144 high school students toward individuals with mental retardation were examined using the Mental Retardation Attitude Inventory-Revised. Results indicated that gender and frequency of contact both influenced attitudes. Females and students with more frequent contacts with individuals with mental retardation indicated more…

Surveys high school students (N=171) regarding their attitudes towards chronically disabled individuals who have special needs. Determined that previous personal knowledge of a child with a chronic disability influenced understanding of the particular ailment; and attitudes became more tolerant as students got older. Presents conclusions for…

A review of literature on employers' attitudes toward workers with disabilities found that type and severity of disability may affect workforce inclusion, employers appear willing to sacrifice work performance or work quality in exchange for a dependable employee, and employers report several concerns surrounding the work potential of employees…

The safety of dyslexic nurses, and whether they are a danger to their patients, has been widely discussed. This empirical study sought to discover the impact of the dyslexic profile on clinical practice for nursing students. Two focus groups of third-year nursing students in higher education were set up: a control group and a dyslexic group. The…

This policy brief reports on an analysis of the legislation establishing charter schools in the 19 states that had such legislation as of December 1995. It identifies provisions in the state legislation which specify anti-discrimination policies and clauses, the inclusion of students at risk or students with disabilities, fiscal provisions,…

This pamphlet, designed to assist people with disabilities in the job search process, discusses Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and job search issues. The ADA's definitions and protections are outlined, and the types of employers covered under the ADA are noted. The pamphlet emphasizes that the ADA is not affirmative action…

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 outlaws discrimination against people with disabilities. It is a bold and comprehensive law affecting employment, transportation, services provided by state and local government, services and accommodations offered by private businesses, and telecommunication access for people with communication…

This fact sheet describes provisions under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) that prohibit the discriminatory assignment of students with disabilities to segregated classes or facilities. In elementary and secondary schools, students with disabilities may be assigned to…

The Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law July 26, 1990, has been heralded across the nation as a triumph for the 43 million Americans with disabilities. This document provides a guide to Title 1 of this Act, which forbids employers with 15 or more employees from discriminating against a qualified individual with a disability in job…

Equity was an invisible issue in the recent reports calling for higher pre-college standards and increased Federal spending on education. Although usually mentioned, equity was part of the (political) rhetoric, not a concrete goal. In "A Nation at Risk," for example, minority and handicapped students are discussed, but with the implication that…