The six 1986 issues of this newsletter for parents of handicapped children contain lead articles with the following titles: "Understanding Psychological Tests" (includes intelligence tests, achievement tests, personality tests and parental do's and don'ts); "Sex Education for the Special Person" (e.g., purpose of sex education, parental do's and…

Two newsletters center on making the transition from school to work for students with disabilities. In the first newsletter, a personal reflection on transition by a man with cerebral palsy is followed by a review of services offered by colleges with support programs for learning disabled students. Guidelines are given to help parents prepare…

Tips for childcare and babysitting with special needs children are divided into the categories of physical handicaps, epilepsy, mental impairment, general safety, and general babysitting suggestions. Also provided is an information sheet that parents of special needs children should complete to alert the babysitter to special needs and emergency…

Natural environments is a term used in the regulations for Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It states that early intervention services must be provided in natural environments, including home and community settings in which children without disabilities participate. Questions addressed in this paper include: (1)…

The eight issues of Handi Helps presented in this document focus on specific issues of concern to the disabled, parents, and those working with the disabled. The two-page handi help fact sheets focus on the following topics: child abuse, leukemia, arthritis, Tourette Syndrome, hemophilia, the puppet program "Meet the New Kids on the…

The newsletter issue for parents of handicapped children looks at ways to help the handicapped child improve his self-esteem. Sections discuss symptoms of low self-esteem, patterns of behavior (such as withdrawal, acting out, avoidance, overcompensation, perseveration, and social immaturity); and ways to improve self-esteem including encouraging…

Following the birth of a handicapped child, both parent and grandparent experience similar feelings of consternation, shock, and grief. The grandparents' reaction is double, however, as they suffer not only for the newborn but for their own child's pain as well. This article focuses on dealing with grief and its stages, including numbness, denial,…

This article aims to strengthen the ability of parents of special needs children to function as stronger, more resilient parents by developing coping mechanisms. Coping mechanisms include allowing oneself to cry, dealing with anger, determining objectively the reasons for the anger, using anger constructively, finding support, becoming flexible,…

Intended for use by parents of children and youth with handicaps, the guide offers basic information on accessing the ERIC bibliographic database and publications. Answers are provided to the following questions: what is ERIC?; where are the resources?; why use the ERIC system?; what's in the ERIC system?; and how do you get started using ERIC…

This edition of the newsletter of the National Information Center for Handicapped Children and Youth describes the actions that are necessary to prepare students to achieve and maintain independence and highlights aspects of the roles of parents, professionals, and the young people themselves in transition planning. Brief articles have the…

Three newsletters focus on disability issues. The first provides an overview of the nature of learning disabilities (LD) and intervention approaches for the condition. Research on effective educational methods for use with LD students is reviewed for such topic areas as the transition from school to work and independent living. Suggestions for…

This guide presents low tech solutions that have worked for some people with disabilities or their parents. Twenty-one ideas are offered to give children with physical disabilities more opportunities for play and art. Examples include recycling stuffed animals into puppets, punching a hole in top of playing cards to accommodate a mouth stick, and…

This edition of the newsletter of the National Information Center for Handicapped Children and Youth explains the meaning of Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) and shows how it can be put into operation not only in school but throughout the life of a disabled person. Brief articles have the following titles: "The Least Restrictive Environment:…

The newsletter for parents of handicapped children focuses on summer activities which provide fun and learning without undue expense or effort. Suggestions include encouraging reading activities (including visiting the library, reading out loud, selective television viewing, making a book, and writing letters). Activities to encourage the child's…

There has recently been an explosion of interest and writing about autism, autism spectrum disorders, pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDDNOS). This issue of the "Early Childhood Bulletin" suggests readings for parents, therapists, and professionals serving on Interagency…