In 2013, 14,304,467 U.S. students participated in a study abroad program related to their academic course work, marking an average increase of 5.2% to the previous year among the reporting institutions. Students with disabilities continue to be significantly underrepresented in such programs. Given the consistent popularity of studying abroad, its…

Extracurricular activities provide students a range of rich experiences that influence their academic achievement, leadership and communication skills, and career paths. Students with disabilities (SWDs) historically have had limited access to extracurricular programs and thus fewer opportunities for academic, social, and vocational development.…

In this article, we share how a professional development school (PDS) partnership between several elementary school sites within a district and an institution of higher education prepares special education teacher candidates. The following challenges are identified for PDS stakeholders: recruiting qualified special education mentor teachers,…

This brief paper summarizes principles of the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) as required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part C. It lists five ways in which the IFSP differs from the Individualized Education Plan including the centrality of the family. Steps that lead to effective IFSPs are identified. These include:…

Eighty individuals attended a workshop which provided an opportunity to consider strategies and develop guidelines for improving and expanding vocational education opportunities for disadvantaged youth and adults. Presentations included in the document are: (1) "Handicapped and Disadvantaged Sections of Public Law 90-576" by John Wyllie, (2)…

This article describes a framework for building more inclusive, effective, and successful schools in poor rural and urban communities called "Whole Schooling". Multiple barriers to inclusive schools are identified, the commonalties and differences between poor rural and urban schools are explored, and specific strategies for utilizing available…

Discusses principles of rural transitional programs for disabled students and strategies for prevocational training such as career visitors, career field trips, career day fair, career bulletin boards, career learning centers, and career aptitude inventories. Discusses strategies for supplementing school programs with community and home-based…

This bulletin discusses transition programs for youth with disabilities. It outlines features of effective transition programs that have proved to be successful including longitudinal planning, emphasis on careers (not labels), work-based learning, connection to community resources, and sustained involvement of employers. A set of strategies is…

From 1993 to 1996, Massachusetts' Springfield Technical Community College implemented Students Creating Optimal Resources for Employment (Project SCORE) to develop a model for increasing job opportunities and career prospects of students and graduates with disabilities. The project provided individual career and academic services to students,…

Presented in a question-and-answer format, this guide provides information to assist teachers of students with disabilities in writing quality Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Following an introduction explaining the purposes of the IEP, the guide is organized around seven important steps in creating IEPs: (1) describe the student; (2)…

Funded through the 1994 School-to-Work (STW) Opportunities Act, state STW systems must serve all students but have tended to have an urban focus because private sector resources are more available in urban areas. Although effective, urban models that rely on large employers have been difficult to replicate in rural areas. In November 1997, state…

The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) surveyed its member small institutions on the status of their programs for preparing teachers for working with handicapped students. Each chapter in this report on the survey is written by different educators from various small colleges in the United States. Chapter 1, "Coping…

These three newsletter issues are designed for users of the Council for Exceptional Children's Life Centered Career Education (LCCE) curriculum. The newsletter's goal is to inform practitioners of curriculum implementation ideas and transition issues and to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas. Featured articles discuss meeting transition…

These two newsletter issues are designed for users of the Council for Exceptional Children's Life Centered Career Education (LCCE) curriculum. The newsletter's goal is to inform practitioners of curriculum implementation ideas and transition issues and to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas. Featured articles discuss how one district used…

This document brings together the first three issues of a newsletter designed for users of the Council for Exceptional Children's Life Centered Career Education (LCCE) curriculum. The newsletter's goal is to inform practitioners of curriculum implementation ideas and transition issues, and to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas. Featured…