This article reflects on the experience of one UK higher education institution in its efforts to develop more effective support mechanisms for the growing numbers of students with Asperger syndrome and autism, in collaboration with a specialist support organisation. Case studies are used to illustrate the complex needs of this group of students.…

It has been a mere four decades since autism emerged from the pernicious cul-de-sac of psychoanalytic conceptualization into the realm of constructive, systematic research, and real-life problem solving. It was in the 1960s that (1) Bernard Rimland (1964) published his ground-breaking book, "Infantile Autism"; (2) the National Society of Autistic…

This document discusses how service learning has developed over the past century in its practices from involvement in volunteerism to active civic engagement. It is so beneficial to both learners and the community that many educators and government leaders believe it should be a required component in the educational career of all students. The…

Schools consistently and directly touch the lives of many residents. This paper offers a summary of points on how schools can become a neighborhood locus for family-centered and comprehensive services, which will aid in the establishment of safe, disciplined, and drug- and alcohol-free schools and communities. Schools and educators should shift…

Written by a former McDonald's manager who earned a master's degree in library science, this article describes how "QSC"--quality, services, and cleanliness--can be applied to libraries in the same way it is used by restaurants. Argues that libraries are simply businesses that cater to customers. (Contains 42 references.) (NB)

Outlines the legal issues surrounding the provision of school support services and assistive technology for children with disabilities. The definition of assistive technology and related services is examined, with findings from relevant case law provided. Information is provided on interpretation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973…

Before social welfare programs can be successfully designed and administered, the problems of the needy must be known. Research literature appearing from 1969 through mid-1977 reveals that: most welfare recipients are dramatically inferior in their ability to compete in the labor market; poverty is a multiproblematic chain which has not been…

Trends and developments that will have an impact on the future of student services and higher education are discussed. The importance of the student services sector in the total higher education enterprise is emphasized. It is suggested that planning and sensitivity to development within the student body are crucial if the student services sector…

The author suggests that some Canadians may consider American services for learners with severe handicaps to be better merely because they are American. It is concluded that Canadians should focus on providing the best possible education for all students, irrespective of how it may compare to American education. (Author/CL)

An historical review of the normalization concept presents an appraisal of various historical contributions. Underlying assumptions, research foundations, and methods of information transmission are examined. A critically evaluative stance is recommended to assess normalization beyond a position of moral principle and sloganeering. Possible…

This article provides a response from the perspectives of a teacher of the gifted and a trainer of teachers of the gifted. Following a brief summary of the authors' collective experience, the article highlights major issues represented by the four articles and identifies common themes across the various disciplines with respect to consultation and…

The 1979 Displaced Homemakers Conference focused on developing awareness of services available from various Illinois agencies to displaced homemakers, generating the spirit and means for cooperative relationships among agencies serving them, and offering prototypes of how women's centers are attempting to coordinate the various services of state…

Discusses whether universities need the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) of the World Trade Organization, and concludes that they do not at present. Many questions remain to be answered before GATS should be applied to trade in education services. (SLD)

The document presents recommendations for government services for disabled persons after 6 years experience with Japan's 1982 long-term plan. The section on fundamental policies notes the principles of rehabilitation and normalization and makes nine recommendations concerning such areas as securing equal opportunities, supporting independence,…

Services for learning disabled adults are discussed through a comparison of their treatment in the Dutch and Danish delivery of services. Promising practices are related from a European perspective and questions are raised about the evolution of services to learning disabled adults in the United States. (Author/CL)