With the inclusion of Special Education Needs (SEN) students in public schools in many countries, there are increasing demands for designing professional development (PD) programs that meet the needs of in-service teachers in inclusive education settings. This paper proposes a framework for creating a PD program for in-service teachers who are…

Northern Ireland has invested heavily in the use of technology enhanced learning at all levels of education. Alongside this, radical changes to the school curriculum and the planned move away from academic selection towards a more inclusive system are challenging those involved in Initial Teacher Education to find ways to improve teaching and…

A transcription is presented of a conference sponsored by Rio Salado Community College (RSCC) to provide information on the use of audio teleconferencing to offer live, interactive classes for the homebound. After an introductory statement on RSCC's Homebound Project, Jan Baltzer provides an overview of the SUNDIAL network, RSCC's audio…

Outlines procedures for integrating arts education into the individualized education program (IEP) written for each handicapped student under PL 94-142. Describes how art can provide diagnostic information on the child, teach academic and behavioral skills, and add an important aesthetic component to the handicapped child's life. (SJL)

Summarized are findings and recommendations of the Karmel Report (1973) regarding special education services in Australia. (DB)

Outlines some general considerations and guidelines for educators developing preservice and inservice programs which address the vocational programing needs of handicapped students. Topics cover need identification, program design, program content, and methods, practicum experiences, certification, evaluation and staff selection and development.…

This digest, based on a larger document titled, "Homeless and in Need of Special Education," by L. Juane Heflin and Kathryn Rudy, focuses on educational aspects of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. Briefly discussed are: the effects of homelessness on children (e.g., increased health problems); the educational implications…

This special issue of the journal Exceptional Children has the theme "Rural Special Education." Nine articles deal with this theme as follows: (1) "The State of the Art of Rural Special Education" (by D. Helge), looks at recent improvements, remaining challenges, and current functioning; policy recommendations are offered for national and state…

The diversity of the American Indian population coupled with the variety of government units serving the Indian makes it difficult to determine how many Indian children need special education, but available information suggests the need is great. A 1972 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) survey estimated that 39% of the Indian school age population…

This review examines the variety of approaches taken to meeting the needs of young children (and their families) with disabilities in the South Pacific. The importance of diverse cultural patterns and problems of isolated communities are noted, as is the need to extend services until the entire population is served and ensure sustained services.…

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 paper addresses problems in providing educational services to gifted students in rural areas and discusses feasible solutions. Rural schools face numerous obstacles such as small numbers of identified gifted students; limited resources and funding; locations distant from universities, libraries, and cultural activities; difficulty in…

This publication presents a data collection system useful in measuring the success of vocational programs for special needs populations as well as current descriptive/demographic information on special needs populations nationwide. The first of four chapters provides a general characterization of special populations and specific definitions for…

This speech by an educator and parent of gifted children addresses the problem of appropriate educational services for gifted children, concluding that advocacy for these children entails pushing for acceleration, an often neglected but effective option. The paper begins with anecdotes which illustrate the unmet needs of gifted children and which…

A joint masters degree program in special education administration was developed through collaboration among Gallaudet University (Washington, D.C.), Plymouth State College (New Hampshire), and Keene State College (New Hampshire). The program was established in 1990 to meet the needs of special educators in rural areas of New Hampshire, Maine, and…