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…

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…

Information is provided for parents of handicapped children, aged 0-2 years, on the uniqueness of each infant's learning processes and the valuable role that parents and others can play in helping their infants with special needs to make the most of their abilities. The digest examines parents' concerns during the infant's hospital stay and early…

Estimates of the incidence of abuse of children with disabilities range from 2 to 10 times the rate of children without disabilities All forms of abuse, including multiple types of abuse with the same child, multiple perpetrators of abuse, and multiple victims within a grouping of children, exist within the population of children with…

This theme issue focuses on the relationship of fathers and their children with disabilities. It reports a study of 86 Kansas fathers of children (ages 5 to 8) with and without disabilities. The study was conducted in order to identify more options for fathers wishing to increase their involvement with their children. The study sent surveys of…

Intended for use by parents of children and youth with handicaps, this guide offers guidelines for choosing a physician and communicating with him/her concerning the needs of the handicapped child. The question-answer format addresses the following issues: how do families choose a doctor for their child?; what about the child who has a…

Intended for use by parents of children and youth with disabilities, this guide offers guidelines for planning for a smooth transition into a new special education placement necessitated by a family move. The question-answer format addresses such questions as the following: "Will the school in my new neighborhood offer special education…

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…

This newsletter issue describes the importance of vocational assessment in the educational process of students with disabilities. Vocational assessment is defined, its purposes are explained, and the ways in which vocational assessment can benefit teenagers with special needs are discussed. Types of informal and formal assessments are explored, as…

The challenges that families face in caring for a child with a disability or a chronic illness are reviewed in this report on respite care. A parent's narrative describes the difficulties in providing around-the-clock care to a child with a chronic illness. The benefits of respite care are outlined as follows: gives the family peace of mind,…

Fourteen brief articles focus on the young handicapped child and his family. Articles have the following titles and authors: "Elements of Early Care and Education" (W. Fowler); "Mothers and Fathers--The Special Child's Special Resources" (M. Lamb); "Child Development--Knowledge and the Special Educator" (A. Honig); "The Handicapped Child in the…

This brochure discusses the role of Missouri parents in the transition of students with disabilities from high school to adult life. It begins by outlining the requirements of federal legislation for transition planning and transition services. A question-and-answer format follows that addresses the beginning of transition planning at age 14 or…

This theme issue provides an overview of how parents and professionals can be involved in advocacy efforts for children with disabilities, ages 3 and older. The guide begins with a definition of advocacy and a discussion of parents' and professionals' roles as advocates. It outlines legal rights, specific parental rights provided by the…

This issue of "Transition Summary" contains articles about self-determination and becoming a good self-advocate, with each article reflecting the experience of someone who has grown up with a disability. "The Many Facets of Self-Determination" (Michael Ward) discusses the concept of self-determination; offers an historical perspective of the…

"The ERIC Review," announces research results, publications, and new programs relevant to each issue's theme topic. This issue exammines children's readiness to enter school, via two principal articles: "Readiness: Children and Their Schools," by Lilian G. Katz; and "Getting Ready for Readiness: A Case Study," by…