An independent evaluation of the VISTA program in two Baltimore, Maryland, schools describes the objectives and activities of this project funded by the Economic Opportunity Act. Assessment of the VISTA efforts was based on questionnaires completed by the 10 volunteers, and interviews with principals, teachers, guidance counselors, pupils, and…

The aim of the study was to evaluate the Occupational Orientation programs funded by the Texas Department of Occupational Education. Interviews with 69 staff members rated the adequacy of various program features. Highest ratings were assigned to such items as freedom to utilize materials, equal opportunities, field trips, developing four year…

Outlines a number of barriers in behavioral consultation, including the lack of standardization of consultation, lack of specific training of consultants, little or no consultee (teacher) training, problems surrounding target behavior identification, and external constraints to consultation. Each area is described along several dimensions that…

Described the development of a high school curriculum designed to promote the psychological growth of students (N=51) in a course about life history interviewing with older adults. Results showed students had more positive attitudes toward older people following the course and were more psychologically mature. (JAC)

The Special Friends Program at Kainalu Elementary and Kailua Intermediate Schools uses a slide show to introduce children in regular education to their severely handicapped peers, then structures systematic interactions between the two groups. This interview with the program's founder, Chris Kube, discusses the programs' philosophy, development,…

Presents an interview with Reed Hundt, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), who implemented the Education Task Force to coordinate the FCC's role in educational provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. He asserts that writing clear rules for the communications sector will promote competition and ensure educational…

The attitudes of employers toward workers with severe mental and physical disabilities and supported employment programs were examined through structured interviews with 47 employers who had hired or supervised workers participating in supported employment programs. Results indicated the employers generally held favorable attitudes regarding the…

Interview with three Ohio directors of Reading Recovery, an intervention that accelerates the literacy acquisition of low-achieving first-grade readers. Discusses the dramatic growth of the program since its pilot year, 1984-85; how Reading Recovery differs from traditional remedial reading programs; the program's theoretical underpinnings and…

The Functional Independence Measure for Blind Adults (FIMBA) Preadmission Interview and the Post-discharge Interview was tested on 143 veterans with blindness. Findings indicate the veterans achieved gains in at least one of the three dimensions (frequency, ease, and satisfaction) across the 33 items that were measured by FIMBA. (Contains…

This study examines the effectiveness of a single-session group motivational enhancement intervention with college students adjudicated for violation of alcohol policy. The intervention consisted of a timeline Followback assessment of drinking, social norms re-education, decisional balance for behavior change, relapse prevention, expectancy…

Purpose: This study evaluated the validity and utility of the Local Public Health System Assessment Instrument (Local Instrument) of the National Public Health Performance Standards Program in rural settings. Methods: The study compared the Local Instrument scores of 6 rural local public health systems to external assessments of those public…

Much of the discussion in the news, schools and statehouses about the NO Child Left Behind Act has focused on testing and accountability, and whether there is enough money to fund the act sufficiently. However, bubbling underneath this publicity is a term that has the potential to cause a minor ripple on the surface or to erupt like ah underwater…

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief CBT intervention for anxiety with children diagnosed with Asperger syndrome (AS). A second interest was to evaluate whether more intensive parent involvement would increase the child's ability to manage anxiety outside of the clinic setting. Methods: Seventy-one children…

The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of older people's perceptions of falls prevention advice, and how best to design communications that will encourage older people to take action to prevent falls. Focus groups and interviews were carried out with 66 people aged 61-94 years recruited from a variety of settings, using falls…

The purpose of the independent monitoring for quality (IM4Q) program is to bridge communication between individuals with mental retardation and the service providers on whom they rely. The IM4Q program uses an interview (essential data elements survey) to gather information about the lives of individuals with mental retardation. Collaboration…