In this article the author provides legal explanations to the following concerns: (1) Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs); (2) Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs); (3) Manifestation Determinations under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA);…

From 2010 the Government plans to have in place a universal Adult Advancement and Careers Service. Beyond the general support to help find jobs and complete applications offered by Job Centre Plus, the new framework will provide a more holistic approach to employment and training. Currently, this kind of holistic support is only available to…

Much has been made of the advantages of active support and person-centred planning, both of which have gradually been evolving and changing over the last 25-30 years. The latter is now mandated in the UK as part of the "Valuing People" strategy on disability (Department of Health UK, 2001), and is also central to the follow-up policy…

This article presents the authors' response to Harman and Sanderson (2008) who address the important question of how person-centred active support is. The authors' intention is not to disagree with Harman and Sanderson's general point that combining active support (AS) with person-centred planning (PCP) is better than either approach being…

Although it is true that good planning does not always lead to a good life, it is equally true that supporting people to have a full, rich life does not happen without good planning. In the past 12 years, the author's organization has supported over 125 people to live in their own homes, control their own funding, direct their own supports,…

Discusses the purposes and implications of the individualized education program (IEP) for handicapped children. (Author/MP)

An elementary school principal comments on the use of individualized education programs and notes problems to be resolved if IEP's become required for every child. (SS)

This paper considers the measurement of person-centered planning with developmentally disabled individuals. It reports on the development of three instruments to assess person-centered planning and both a process and an outcome index. Psychometric evaluation indicated test-retest reliability and measures of internal consistency were adequate.…

Suggests that individual students' learning styles should determine counseling techniques and strategies used and recommends use of the Learning Style Inventory for this purpose. Tables present learning style compatibility with selected counseling objectives, interventions, and programmed materials related to learning styles. (WD)

The authors respond to six questions from parents and teachers of gifted and talented children. Topics covered include individualized education programs, acceleration, and the development of state programs for gifted and talented students. (CL)

The article presents an interview with Dr. Joseph Renzulli, a leader in the field of gifted education. Topics touched on include the individualized educational programing model for gifted/talented children, research in gifted education, and recent books on gifted children. (SBH)

In an interview, K. Wyatt, president of The Council for Exceptional Children, discusses issues related to determining the most appropriate and least restrictive environment (LRE) placement for mentally retarded persons. (CL)

An individual with a disability complains that under the blanket term "disabled" individual needs and rights are not respected, privacy is invaded, people are always being evaluated but never asked to evaluate services they receive, and everything must be part of a "program" rather than just part of daily life. (JDD)

This commentary on EC 605 926 examines the issue of whether the family or the individual with developmental disabilities should be the unit receiving services and discusses the impact of disability on the family. It concludes that the best interests of the family generally coincide with the best interests of the individual with disabilities. (JDD)

The transitional assessment model described here contains the following characteristics: vocational orientation, comprehensive approach, individualized focus, contemporary design, and informal instrumentation. The screening, placement/planning, and monitoring/evaluation services vary in degree depending on the severity of the student's disability.…