This article examines the role of assessment in developing Individual Family Service Plans (IFSP) under Part H of the Education of the Handicapped Act. Emphasis is on determining eligibility, collecting assessment data for describing developmental performance, and establishing desired outcomes. (PB)

Curriculum differentiation for students with special educational needs is examined in the context of Great Britain's move toward a market system for education and its impact on policy and practice. Issues considered include the vulnerability of particular groups, the ideals of entitlement and empowerment, values inherent in governmental policies,…

Two individualized, mentor-paced programs for elementary school students who are extremely talented in mathematics are described--the Julian C. Stanley Mentor Program and the Investigation of Mathematically Advanced Elementary Students. The paper discusses eligibility, level of instruction, mentor selection, student evaluation, and other program…

Discusses programmatic and curricular modifications often needed for students included in public school settings who are deaf or hard of hearing, such as adapting the mode/flow of classroom communication, linguistic-level changes, and adapting the listening and physical environment. Possible curricular modifications are suggested for…

This paper reviews the Supreme Court's Zebley decision which expanded the definition of disability in young children by including functional equivalence; compares regulations and practices under the Social Security Administration and Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; and offers guidelines concerning the intent of the law,…

This study examined the moderating effects of peer social avoidance on responses of six autistic children to an inclusive classroom treatment model. Peer social avoidance (but not mental age or language level) predicted variations in outcomes for subsequent peer avoidance and language use. Results have implications for matching child…

The purpose of this review is to present factors that impede and promote successful transition to kindergarten, with a focus on the specific needs of students with problem behavior. The review addresses competencies that teachers report are critical for success in kindergarten, traditional transition practices, and challenges in implementing…

Background and Purpose: The intensity of physical therapy provided for children in early intervention (EI) programs may be influenced by a number of factors. In an individualized program, however, some children and families may benefit from an increased frequency of services. The purpose of this case report was to systematically document and…

This report has been provided to the Legislature on an annual basis since 2000 when the legislature amended the language of G.L. c. 71B to align Massachusetts special education terminology with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This year reports the context of a major change in the way state systems of special…

The report summarizes a study of the individualization process for teaching handicapped students. Relationships were examined among three forms of the individual plan: the contractual plan, as written in the individualized education program (IEP) document; the phenomenological plan, the teacher's intent for the program; and the empirical plan, the…

Discusses the use of individualized education programs in making literacy an integral part of the typewriting curriculum. (JOW)

Both segregated and desegregated school models for severely handicapped students are considered, and an individualized transition plan is proposed. Among the plan's major components are that it must be comprehensive, involve parents and guardians, require actual participation of both sending and receiving personnel, and include the focused…

The study examined the perceptions of 1,638 secondary individualized education program (IEP) meeting participants from 393 IEP meetings across 3 consecutive years. Results indicate significant differences between the survey answers and participant roles, when students did or did not attend their IEP meetings, and when different professional team…

To date, there is minimal research focused on the experiences of parents labeled with intellectual disability (ID). Much of the research focuses on early intervention programs and practices to support parents with ID as they raise children from birth to age three. As children age and enter into school there are increasing challenges for navigating…

Team collaboration is necessary to fully support school-age students who use assistive technology (AT). Teams should include the student, his or her family, and school professionals. Unfortunately, team collaboration is often not realized due to constraints that range from scheduling conflicts and language barriers to lack of defined roles and…