The technological advances that have occurred in recent decades have resulted in substantial changes in the nature and structure of occupations and industries. Career development is now being recognized as a lifelong process. Individualized career plans (ICPs) or personal plans of action are becoming important instruments for counselors and others…

This annotated bibliography identifies 13 readings and 7 videotapes concerned with individualized education programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities. Items include guides to IEP development, federal regulations, parent guides, and guides to IEP meetings. Listed items were published from 1997 through 2001. (DB)

This digest summarizes information on the roles of the Federal Government, the family, and teachers in preparing young children with disabilities for school. Noted are relevant provisions of Public Law 99-457, the 1986 Amendments to the Education of the Handicapped Act (Part B), including development of Individualized Family Service Plans to aid…

This brief paper summarizes research findings concerning the identification and implementation of effective practices in early childhood intervention for children with disabilities. First, research documenting the effectiveness of early childhood intervention is noted and the importance of developing individualized programs within integrated early…

Individualized instruction is an old concept that has been newly mandated by the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975. Although neither widely used nor well-defined, individualized instruction is particularly relevant for students who fall outside the norms, behaviorally or academically. It has particular value for ghetto students…

This digest, in question and answer format, summarizes what is known about effective ways to provide fully educational services for gifted students in the regular classroom. The following questions are addressed: What are the steps to full service? (educators need to plan environments in which all students can fully develop their abilities and…

The digest extends the concept of Individualized Education Programs (IEP) to gifted and talented children. IEPs are defined as written documents, developed and revised annually with input from parents, teachers, and where appropriate, the students themselves. IEP content includes a realistic assessment of current performance, reasonable…

This guide is designed to assist regular classroom teachers in helping the hearing impaired child to master the English language. It is noted that the hearing impaired population is not homogenous. Different factors involved in the decision to place a hearing impaired child in a regular classroom are considered. The types of language problems…

This brief paper presents guidelines for creating useful Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) as required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It lists 10 items of information that the law requires be included in an IEP such as current levels of educational performance and measurable goals and objectives. The importance of…

This paper describes highlights of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that have a high impact on the delivery of special education services. IDEA's eight parts are outlined, and then two parts are discussed in more detail: (1) Part B, which authorizes federal grants to states to help underwrite the costs of educating children…

In a question-and-answer format, this single sheet outlines the rights of parents in the special education process, as provided by Public Law 94-142, including the right to a free appropriate public education for the child, to request a re-evaluation, to have the child tested in the child's primary language, and to participate in the development…

This digest paper examines the special roles of parents of children with disabilities in planning for the education of their children and discusses how educators can work effectively with parents to create meaningful individualized education programs (IEPs). Barriers to parental participation in the IEP process are identified, including…

The paper provides a framework for a nonbiased placement system for students with suspected handicapping conditions. The suggested approach is designed to help school districts determine whether the appraisal system is contributing to the disproportionate placement of minority group students in special education classes. Nineteen steps in the…

The digest explores the rights as well as the responsibilities of parents of handicapped children in the special education process. Rights include a free appropriate public education, notification regarding evaluation or change in placement, informed consent, independent evaluation, review of all records, participation in the Individualized…

The monograph examines the status of education for the handicapped and addresses the provisions of P.L. 98-199 The Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1983. Chapter 1, on progress in the education of the handicapped, presents information on the following topics: (1) the number of handicapped students receiving a free, appropriate public…