Special education literature abounds with a challenge to special educators to promote the acquisition of self-determination skills in their students. A critical component of self-determination that can be readily addressed in the school setting is self-advocacy. The authors believe that meeting the challenge of enhancing student's self-advocacy…

This paper presents the third part of the "Massachusetts Primer on Special Education and Charter Schools." Part III addresses the issues concerning the education of students with disabilities at all stages in the development and operation of a Massachusetts charter school. The information is intended to inform those who are responsible…

This guide (with audiotape) offers information on helping students with disabilities become involved in developing their own Individualized Education Programs (IEP). The guide is organized into lesson plans which can be adapted to individual situations. Individual lessons focus on the following topics: (1) introductory work with students (such as…

This paper lists five principles to consider that will enable beginning teachers to defend Individualized Education Program (IEP) decisions for students with disabilities in due process hearings. The first principle urges teachers to consider placing children with disabilities in regular education with supplemental aids and services when making…

This study investigated the nature and extent of physical education programs for individuals with disabilities in Washington State's small rural public school districts. Questionnaires were sent to 185 superintendents of small rural school districts in the state. Of the 128 responses, 70.3% enrolled individuals with disabilities. Fifty-eight…

The manual is intended to help parent surrogates carry out their role by providing an overview of the special education decisionmaking process in Maryland. The parent surrogate is responsible for representing the child in all matters relating to identification, evaluation, educational placement, and programing. Roles of the parent surrogate are…

This document consists of three separately published two-fold brochures. The three brochures provide guidelines for families of persons with disabilities to assess the level of integration efforts by local school districts and special education cooperatives. Guidelines are presented in the form of yes-no questions about administrative commitment,…

The paper describes the use of expert systems technology in translating test and observational data into objectives for Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) with handicapped students. The Math Test Interpreter (MTI) is designed to combine student information, results from the Key Math Diagnostic Arithmetic Test and additional program generated…

This paper presents an interagency collaboration model designed to improve collaboration between residential programs and special education teachers involved with students residing in a community-based program. It uses the individualized educational program (IEP) process to provide a mechanism for transfer and generalization of goals between…

Summaries of five papers from a 1979 conference on special education are presented. "Adapting and Managing the Environment for Mainstreaming," presented by D. Bricker-Derkacz, briefly considers factors in structuring a multisensory environment: orientation, adaptation, boundaries, and designing specific activities. In "Communicating with Parents…

The practicum addressed the problem of lack of parent involvement in the development of IEPs (Individualized Education Programs) for their handicapped children, through development of a slide program and associated materials. The program attempted to educate parents regarding the IEP process, their role in it according to Public Law 94-142 (The…

The paper briefly describes TIP (Telecommunications Intervention Program), a service which delivers preliminary Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for Head Start handicapped children based on a computerized data base of long range goals, short term objectives, and specific related learning activities. This high technology expert system was…

This pamphlet guides parents of children with disabilities through the procedures for acquiring special education services in the state of Washington. Following an overview of special education, the pamphlet presents information on notice and consent procedures, confidentiality of records, individualized education programs (IEP), the placement…

The manual describes program standards and guidelines for New York programs interested in qualifying for state reimbursement for special education costs ordered by the court in serving handicapped students birth to 5 years of age. Standards are set forth for the following areas: eligibility (including definitions of handicapped conditions);…

The volume is designed to help attorneys, paralegals, and other interested persons to act as advocates for handicapped children. The first chapter provides an overview of federal laws concerning the education of the handicapped (including provisions in the constitution). Chapter 2 lists characteristics and needs of mental retardation, hearing…