Shared reading is a powerful literacy intervention for the development of early communication and literacy skills. For students with extensive support needs who are beginning communicators, shared reading has the potential to support the development of initiation and expressive symbolic communication skills. This descriptive, multicase, mixed…

This paper analyses the descriptions of families of children with disabilities as contained in introductory special education texts over the last 50 years. These text books are typically used in pre-service teacher education courses as surveys of the education of "exceptional children". The textbooks reflect the mainstream professional…

Family-centered care and responsiveness to diversity are issues of great import for early childhood special education teachers. Nevertheless, the research for these related areas is divided throughout the field. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a master's-level course designed to integrate instruction in family-centered…

This study examined the quantity and quality of narratives and graphics concerned with disability in children's magazines prior to and after Public Law 94-142, the Education of All Handicapped Children Act, enacted in 1975. Content analysis was conducted on "Highlights for Children," selected for its longevity and wide circulation and…

These four conference papers from the Biennial Conference on Postsecondary Education for Persons who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing focus on different perspectives of change. The first paper, "The Impact of the Current Political Climate upon Legislation for Persons with Disabilities" (Robert Stodden), shares the experiences of a Senatorial…

Presents a developmental perspective on the preparation of early childhood teachers to work in settings where children with handicaps are mainstreamed, focusing specifically on the affective development of teachers. Suggests methods for teacher educators, center directors, and teachers themselves to use in this process. (MDM)

This paper reviews trends in transition for young people with disabilities including national education reform, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and other legislative advances, advances in behavioral and rehabilitation technology, changing attitudes, and the impact of federally funded model demonstrations. A table enumerates reasons…