The amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) in 2004 reiterate the significance of producing real postsecondary education, employment, and independent living outcomes. However, current employment data continue to show widespread unemployment and very limited access to inclusive community environments and…

The service delivery model of the Pennsylvania Children and Adolescent Service Systems Program (CASSP) is explained, and the 1983 federal initiative that launched this system is discussed. The federal CASSP initiative was developed to improve systems of care to ensure that the underserved population of children and adolescents with severe…

This paper describes the commonly found "knowledge delivery" education format and argues that work outside the academy and more in-depth academic training demand skills and competencies not developed by the "knowledge delivery" model. The knowledge curriculum education is characterized as lecture-type instruction, knowledge delivery and exposure,…

Two approaches to providing information about beef cattle preconditioning to randomly selected farmers were compared in a study involving 12 small and part-time farmers in Madison County, North Carolina. Half the farmers received the information from an extension agent via face-to-face consultations, telephone conversations, and an educational…

This paper examines the unmet service needs and problems of persons with disabilities in rural and remote regions of New South Wales (Australia). Data were collected through consultations with disabled persons, families, and service providers in Sydney and four rural areas; a literature review; compilation of an in-depth inventory of service…

This report evaluates the day care needs of Pennsylvania migrant families and the adequacy of current state and local resources and delivery system for meeting those needs. Data collection included a meeting with state program administrators; mail surveys of state, regional, and local agency administrators and staff, and of employers of migrant…

This report summarizes the actions and outcomes of a seminar attended by State Education Agency (SEA) directors of gifted and talented programs in December 1994. The meeting identified important issues in the gifted field, including: lack of gifted preservice course work and training programs; service for students in the regular classroom; the…

Using the results of model gifted and talented projects in Ohio (32 during Fiscal Year 1992-93 and 31 during 1994-95), this report provides information to local education agencies to improve the identification of and delivery of services to students who are gifted. Alternative identification strategies such as using a multifactored assessment are…

This paper investigates the multicultural demands of health care delivery by examining the role of organizational communication in promoting effective multicultural relations in modern health care systems. The paper describes the multicultural make-up of modern health care systems--noting, for example that providers from different professional…

At the request of the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, this investigation identified state and local school food authorities' (SFA) management and operating practices recognized as best practice by the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) or other officials. In addition, the study determined whether some of these practices could be…

A research project in Australia investigated the support and service needs of 47 parents (40 mothers and 7 fathers) with intellectual disability. The study involved interviews and questionnaires with parents, significant others, and service workers; focus groups; and a survey of generic service providers. Findings indicated that 63 percent of…

This study was designed to identify major issues of access to health insurance and health-related services for persons with disabilities and to develop recommendations that reflect a disability perspective on how these issues can be addressed. Findings and recommendations of the study are based on a review of the literature and testimony from over…

This handbook offers a set of practical ideas and their philosophical underpinnings, designed to assist community groups which desire to form interagency coordinating councils. A Local Interagency Coordinating Council (LICC) works to develop, coordinate, and provide a community-based, comprehensive system of services for young children with…

Basic information about respite care for individuals with disabilities and their families is presented in a question-and-answer format. The following questions are addressed: "What is respite?"; "Who needs respite services?"; "Who provides respite services?"; "What kinds of services are provided?"; "How…

This report describes how staff at the school, cluster, and central offices have responded to the Philadelphia district's new student support ethos. This report does not present student outcome data or measure the quantity or quality of services because the evaluation teams believed it was too early in the implementation of the initiative to…