In addition to its basic function, the Head Start program provides access to health care, nutrition, and social services. Its services are comprehensive, parents and community are involved, and staff development is an integral feature. New York State's allocations of federal funds for handicapped children are based on Head Start's annual reports.…

GAO prepared this report under the Comptroller General's authority as part of an effort to assist policy makers in determining how federal disability programs could more effectively meet the needs of individuals with disabilities and addressed it to each committee of jurisdiction. In this report, GAO assesses: (1) the extent to which state…

This study evaluated differences in teacher and student perceptions about communication patterns within classrooms and the effect of a teacher-student communication system, the Learning Expressways System, on teacher-student communication. High school teachers who had or have had students with disabilities in their classes participated. In the…

The effects of an interactive multimedia program on teachers' understanding and implementation of an instructional innovation were examined. Fifty-eight preservice teachers and 10 inservice teachers participated and were randomly assigned to one of two teacher development programs. The first teacher development program, called the "Virtual…

This review examined the evaluation components from 10 awarded state improvement grants designed to improve systems providing services for students with disabilities. The review examined the following aspects of the evaluation components: purposes, conceptual framework for the evaluation and systems reform, evaluation design and approaches,…

This report of the General Accounting Office to a Congressional Committee examines possible overlapping functions of three federal special education grant programs mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The programs are: (1) Special Education Grants to States (School-age Grants); (2) Special Education Preschool Grants…

This longitudinal case study examined the communication and literacy learning progress of an 11-year-old boy with severe speech and physical impairments related to cerebral palsy. Integrated use of voice-output augmentative communication technology led to improved communication skills as well as increased demonstrations of literacy capability…

A study of a woman with deaf-blindness and severe mental retardation examined the potential decrease of problem behaviors by using functional assessment-based interventions applied in multiple natural environments throughout the day. Results found that increasing the amount of attention the woman received from program staff immediately eliminated…

This paper compares eight inclusive models for elementary students with mild disabilities, described in terms of curricular innovations and organization of personnel and classrooms. Results suggest that inclusive programming can be effective for some, but not all, students with mild disabilities and that organizational and instructional changes…

This article discusses prereferral consultation and intervention assistance in educating children with and without disabilities. The article focuses on the history, rationale, and philosophical perspectives of prereferral intervention and legal and public policy considerations. The article reviews studies evaluating Teacher Assistance Teams,…

This study examined the effects of training three individuals to teach parents of preschool children with disabilities to implement milieu language teaching and generalize these skills for home use. Four strategies for parent training were taught. All six children increased use of target language skills in training sessions and showed modest…

Four researchers (Gersten, Vaughn, Jenkins, and Downing) respond to a review in the same issue by Hunt and Goetz entitled "Research on Inclusive Educational Programs, Practices, and Outcomes for Students with Severe Disabilities." Respondents generally support the review, but raise concerns about placement of students with severe disabilities…

Program Evaluation in 6 elementary school resource rooms (30 mildly handicapped students) found that students receiving the experimental program scored significantly higher on posttraining measures of peer acceptance and social skills. Experimental students also made a slightly greater improvement than controls in social behavior in natural school…

The article reviews the history of special education in Australia over the last 30 years and identifies issues including the efficacy of early intervention programs, legislation and other governmental acts, the move to integration, attitudes toward integration, and establishment of a multidisciplinary center providing training, resource, and…

Examines the issues addressed at two of three Child Care Institutes sponsored by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), as well as the responsibilities of ACF in relation to the provision of child care. Specific programs administered by ACF are discussed, as are future trends in federal support for child care and early childhood…