Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have complex and unique needs that can impact their success. Evidence-based practices (EBPs) have been identified that are effective with this population, yet educators may not be adequately prepared to implement such EBPs. Special education administrators are frequently responsible for developing and…

In this article, we describe the evolution of a statewide alternative teacher preparation program for teachers of students with disabilities and explain current processes to revise and expand the program to increase accessibility to teacher candidates in rural schools. We will identify important features of the program including (a) significant…

In spring 2014, the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) announced that it was beginning to implement a new accountability framework for special education. This framework, known as Results Driven Accountability (RDA), is intended to shift from a compliance to an outcomes focus to improve educational…

Despite legal mandates and evidence of predictors of success in transition, there continue to be poor outcomes for students with disabilities as compared to students without disabilities. This article describes the first steps of a quality improvement project, including a needs assessment and description of the current constraints of transition…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the relationship of pre-service teachers with action research. Faculty researchers wanted to find out if pre-service teachers could learn and apply the principles of action research in their teaching and to investigate how action research could be used to promote or encourage reflective teaching…

This study was conducted to designing a model of vocational training programs for disables. For this purpose desk review was carried out and the vocational training models/programs of Israel, U.K., Vietnam, Japan and Thailand were analyzed to form a conceptual framework of the model. Keeping in view the local conditions/requirements a model of…

Check & Connect was created in a five year period from 1990 to 1995. The original manual, entitled "Keeping Kids in School: Using Check & Connect for Dropout Prevention" and written by David Evelo, Mary Sinclair, Christine Hurley, Sandra Christenson, and Martha Thurlow, was published in 1996 (ED398701). This newly revised Check…

The paper provides guidelines for establishing and operating teacher aide programs in special education. Chapter I considers legal aspects of using paraprofessionals with emphasis on the stance of the Nebraska Professional Practices Commission. A second chapter outlines the roles and duties of teachers and aides, offers sample job descriptions for…

A report is given on the development and progress of the Dean's Grant Project at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Included in the report is information on: (1) developments leading to the Dean's Grant Project; (2) plan for institutionalizing special education concepts in the teacher education program; (3) goals, objectives, and activities…

A description is given of three workshops developed to assist school administrators in implementing programs in adapted and developmental physical education for mainstreamed students. The first workshop included information regarding services for the handicapped and approaches to program change in adapted physical education. The curriculum of an…

The model workshop manual is intended for use with state and local special education and sex equity staff. The manual contains a model workshop format, information on problems faced by disabled students, and suggested workshop activities. A sample workshop agenda, accompanying materials and resources developed, compiled, and field-tested at two…

Peer tutors can facilitate the inclusion of students with disabilities into regular education classrooms, especially in schools where money is not available for aides. The first steps in such a program are determining the best placements for students with disabilities and training the peer tutors. Training should cover expectations of peer tutors,…

This manual presents recommended practices of the Council for Exceptional Children's Division for Early Childhood (DEC) for evaluating early intervention and early childhood special education programs. The DEC recommended practices are intended to complement previously established guidelines for developmentally appropriate practices. This guide…

A survey was conducted to determine demographic characteristics of existing early childhood education programs in Alaska. The survey was completed by 152 certified preschool programs and licensed out-of-home child care centers, representing 6,601 children and 1,093 staff members. Data were tabulated for questionnaire responses on children's…

This technical report is one of a series concerning the instrumentation for Project PRIME, which investigated the relationship of regular and special education classroom environments to student characteristics. About You and Your Friends (AYYF) is a self-report inventory of the affective characteristics of students. The instrument is suitable for…