Professionals and communication partners report experiencing challenges with regard to developing the knowledge and skills needed to support individuals with complex communication needs who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). These challenges can be exacerbated in rural and remote areas where access to resources and training may…

Deciding whether and how to use assessments to evaluate students' social and emotional (SE) knowledge, attitudes, and skills requires the development and critical appraisal of an assessment plan. At the state, district, and school levels, education leaders and staff can benefit from reviewing best practices and using a structured format to arrive…

Education in the 21st century is awakening to a call for students who are not only proficient with academic content but who also have developed the social and emotional (SE) knowledge, attitudes, and skills that are necessary for success in college and careers. This brief refers to that combination of knowledge, attitudes, and skills as SE…

Assessing individuals' social and emotional (SE) knowledge, attitudes, and skills is a complex task. It requires careful consideration of the assessment purpose, rigor, practicality, burden, and ethics. Once you have considered these factors and have determined that you are, in fact, "Ready to Assess," you are ready to act and choose an…

With many children and adults affected by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, researchers strive to understand the underpinnings of ADHD and associated factors on both a basic and applied level. The goal of this volume is to explore some of the broad array of research in the field of ADHD. The 12 chapters cover a variety of topics as varied…

The paper is a product of the 3-year project, "Functional Mainstreaming for Success," designed to develop a model for instructional mainstreaming of handicapped children (3-6 years old) in community settings. The literature review on teacher attitudes toward mainstreaming stresses implication of these attitudes for successful mainstreaming, and…

The lack of physician knowledge in the diagnosis and management of sleep disorders is discussed. An examination of physicians demonstrated knowledge deficiencies and a survey of medical schools showed that 46 percent offered no training in the area of sleep physiology or disorders. Recommendations for addressing the situation are offered. (JMD)

The practicum developed a four-part program to promote a community support network to meet the needs of head injured children and their families. A primary goal was to increase the membership in the head injury support group and provide a network of community support for this population. A second aim was to increase the awareness of head injuries…

The paper is a product of the 3-year project, "Functional Mainstreaming for Success," designed to develop a model for instructional mainstreaming of handicapped children (3-6 years old) in community settings. The paper provides a seven point definition of successful mainstreaming and reviews the literature on the role of special…

Assessment of children's abilities and knowledge, their approaches to learning, and their strengths, needs, and interests is expected in most early childhood programs. However, many early childhood educators are unsure of how to assess young children's development and learning. This straight forward booklet will help increase understanding of…

Briefly describes how students use their prior knowledge of conventions in making inferences about literature. Outlines some techniques that could be employed in conducting descriptive research studies to determine what students do or do not know and how that difference affects their response to literature. (RL)

The paper reviews the literature on: the vulnerability of adolescents to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS); specific factors that put adolescents at risk, including sexual activity, drug use, race and ethnicity, and lack of knowledge of risk; the special case of adolescents with learning disabilities; and the need for AIDS education. (JDD)

Analysis of data from a longitudinal study of Indiana high school students (n=56) reveals that parents are more interested than students in information about postsecondary education costs and student financial aid. It also suggests efforts to increase family knowledge should focus on general information rather than specific aid programs.…

The document summarizes results of a project to help design effective in-service training programs for regular and special class teachers dealing with students with learning disabilities (LD). Feedback from participants in inservice programs offered by the Learning Centre in Alberta (Canada) suggests the importance of better identification of…

Challenges in applying cognitive strategy research to complex knowledge domains in students with learning disabilities include the need to focus on deficits in domain-specific knowledge; adaptation of assessment designs to answer cognitive questions; and procedures for individual cognitive strategy instruction in group settings. A research agenda…