Richard Simpson is professor of special education at the University of Kansas (KU). Dr. Simpson's duties at KU have included roles of staff psychologist, teaching associate, assistant professor, project director, associate professor, professor, and chairperson for the Department of Special Education. He has directed numerous University of Kansas…

As school psychologists, educators and parents most often approach us with questions relating to a concern. We have the privilege of serving students in their natural learning environment where skills and behaviors can be observed and analyzed, where interventions can be created and tested, and, hopefully, where a positive change can be made…

This article reports on a case that resulted in a published court decision which illustrates a dilemma at the intersection of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). On first impression, the finding that teachers were operating based on professional principle seems to validate their actions.…

In their reply to my recent article in this journal, "The Long Good-bye: Why B. F. Skinner's "Verbal Behavior" Is Alive and Well on the 50th Anniversary of Its Publication" (Schlinger, 2008a), Dymond and Alonso-Alvarez (2010) assert that I neglected to mention a controversial debate within behavior analysis about the consistency of Skinner's…

Barbara Keogh is a true Californian. She was born in Glendale, received her education and professional training in California colleges and universities, and has been a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for more than 40 years, where she is now Emerita. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and has worked as a…

The article notes the tendency of both psychologists and educators to engage in "psychobabble," or jargon that hinders communication, and argues that professionals should seek a dialog using the language of the consumer, describing behavior rather than labeling, and using concise, clear language. (CL)

Discusses the dilemmas faced by disabled individuals in their self-identification, their choice to be activists, and their relationships with the nondisabled. (GC)

Direct observation is the hallmark example of broader behavior assessment. As such, it involves a systematic process in which behaviors, settings, and their reciprocal relationship are studied. As a process, behavior assessment relies on multiple methods and repeated measurement. Each component in the behavior assessment battery makes a unique…

The changing role of the school psychologist in light of societal changes, changes in the profession, and the needs of handicapped children is discussed. Such professional dilemmas as the conflict between requirements for mundane assessment tasks and meaningful psychological practice are considered. Relationships of the school psychologist with…

Briefly reviewed is the historical perspective of school psychology, demographic information on the numbers of school psychologists, and services to special education, including underused roles in inservice education and research and evaluation. (DB)

Describes the theory and practice of family-centered child psychology, a philosophy of treatment that views the child in the context of family and community and attempts to engage the family in the therapeutic process. Graduate-level training and research issues in this model are discussed. (DM)

Presents the emerging field of early childhood special education, clarifies some major concerns in educating young handicapped children, and raises issues for school psychologists working in this area. (Author/ABB)

The value of intelligence testing was extended beyond its intent, and psychologists were not answerable to any measure of accountability. Recently, the value of testing has been challenged in the courts and is now restricted by legislative mandate. Continued resistance by psychologists may lead to the demise of standardized intelligence tests.…

The article focuses on how the role of school psychologists is being influenced by litigation and legislation and how school psychology is reevaluating its professional standards and ethics. (DB)

Suggests that a need exists in schools for the vocational as well as academic preparation of students, especially the handicapped. A rationale is offered for the involvement of the school psychologist in facilitating vocational/career development via the assessment process. Definition and purposes of vocational assessment are presented.…