This article presents a profile of early career special educators' (n= 1,153) working conditions, induction support, and career plans using data from the Study of Personnel Needs in Special Education (SPeNSE). The majority of respondents are Caucasion and female, and 80% are certified for their main assignments. Most respondents reported receiving…

Assistive Technology--as defined by the ?"Tech Act?" (Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act, Public Law 100-407)?is any item, piece of equipment, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. While the term assistive technology is new, the…

Reviews the history of competency-based education for teachers of the visually impaired. Describes a University of Michigan project to develop a self-study manual for teachers and a list of validated competencies with suggested achievement indicators. (SK)

Competency-based in-service education programs are put forth as an effective way to provide systematic training for special education teachers. (MM)

The authors examine the special educator's plight in translating laboratory findings into classroom practice, in terms of the possible ungeneralizability of the experimental outcomes. (Author/PHR)

The reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education (No Child Left Behind) Act is questioned with reference to the requirement that every state ensure that all special education teachers are highly qualified and are receiving high-quality professional development. The conclusion is that the act lacks clear definitions, realistic goals,…

The International Symposium on Further Education of Teachers of Handicapped Youth involved 79 specialists with the goal of examining concepts of further education in individual European countries. Two basic problems were formulated--the necessity of further (life long) education of special education personnel and the need for international…

The article describes the scope of vocational education, the low enrollment of handicapped students in vocational education courses, and benefits for handicapped students from vocational student organizations (VSO). Also discussed are previous barriers to VSO membership and ways vocational and special educators may attract handicapped students to…

Examined preference ratings of classroom teachers, special education teachers, and administrators (N=105) regarding four consultation approaches with respect to five stages of a consultation process. Results indicated a preference for collaboration over other indirect service models in their consultee role vis-a-vis school psychological…

Presents school consultation from the perspective of the network model. A network in the form of a teacher center, developed for teachers of gifted children, is described. The teacher center network is compared to a different network, and issues relevant to both instances are discussed. A case study is presented. (Author/BEF)

The preparation of special educators has changed dramatically since the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was implemented. Special education teachers must deal with changes in the political contexts in which they work as well as changes in the children, youth, and families with whom they work. As a consequence of those changes, how we…

The author defines mainstreaming and discusses how business education teachers and special needs instructors can work as a team on instructional and materials adaptation to meet the special needs of students. (CH)

The purpose of Preschool Units EMIS Staff Report is twofold. First, it helps School Districts and Educational Service Centers (ESC) ensure accuracy and validity of preschool staff, student and program data submitted to the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) through the Education Management Information System (EMIS). From this report, school…

Training behavioral consultants in the school psychology field has emerged as a high priority, with most efforts centering on training consultants to assist teachers in solving children's academic and behavioral problems in the regular classroom. With the growing success of consultation procedures in applied settings, a corresponding need has…

Presents two methods of enhancing therapeutic relationships through having special education teachers observe and use students' verbal and nonverbal behaviors during social interactions. Discusses how teachers can identify students' predominant sensory modalities used to communicate experiences and can adopt behaviors similar to their students'…