This report presents first year (1984-85) findings of The Writing Project, a 2-year school-based study of the use of word processing to improve learning-disabled children's writing skills. Emphasis is on how remedial teachers can integrate computers into their writing activities in resource rooms and classrooms. Based in three Massachusetts school…

When writing is taught through conferences between a student and teacher, the authority of the teacher profoundly influences what students think and say about writing. Also, as students learn to deal with their teacher's authority, they develop strategies for talking about writing tasks in voices that are authentically their own. An examination of…

A study examined the communication problems between nondisabled and disabled persons. A questionnaire was created based on a theoretical model of intercultural communication involving three levels of analysis: intrapersonal, interpersonal, and systematic. One hundred and two nondisabled and 40 disabled subjects reacted to a helping situation…

This issue of "Transition Summary" contains articles about self-determination and becoming a good self-advocate, with each article reflecting the experience of someone who has grown up with a disability. "The Many Facets of Self-Determination" (Michael Ward) discusses the concept of self-determination; offers an historical perspective of the…

Career education for the severely physically disabled in grades kindergarten through 12 is offered by Human Resources Center, Albertson, New York. The center views career education as a broad developmental process and is responsive to the individual's current developmental stage and experiential background. The development process of the severely…

Three studies that measured the extent to which college students differed in the amount of control they experienced in situations relating to nuclear war and in ordinary life situations such as school, community, and home are described. In the first study, 91 college-level psychology students viewed the television film "The Day After,"…

Compared the personality characteristics of late adolescent and young adult children of alcoholics (COAs) with those of their peers, examining gender specificity in personality differences. COA respondents, particularly women, and especially women with alcoholic fathers, were more likely to report greater self-depreciation. Male COAs rated…

Discusses the changes in American thinking and tolerance between the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the writing of the Constitution. Concludes that the right to pursue happiness allows everyone to personally define happiness. The government that secures that right will leave people alone to do as they wish. (PS)

Questions whether the American constitutional order is capable of accommodating an equal citizenship for Blacks. Maintains that the inequality of condition that Black Americans endure is rooted in social as much as in legal practice. Improving the situation requires individual accountability on the part of Blacks. (PS)

The article describes the helping styles proposed by P. Brickman, et al.--moral, compensatory, medical, enlightenment--and relates them to teachers' disciplinary practices with emotionally disturbed and other disabled students. Factors impeding teachers' ability to provide discipline and curricular methods that support student autonomy and…

Presents results of attendance norm violations survey at a Native Canadian adult education school. Examines whether school administrators' perception of violations as deviance is shared by students and Native community representatives. Discusses ambivalence of formal academic expectations versus encouragement for students to retain cultural…

Compared "extended discretion" (ED) learning approach to traditional Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) laboratory investigations. Found that although ED students are more capable of exercising independent judgment for greater lengths of time while BSCS demanded more teacher time, all teachers were still reluctant to accord…

One hundred fifteen teachers (58 percent) at universities, community colleges, and public schools reported their teaching practices and beliefs in teaching adults and preadults. Though they reported differences, observation yielded little evidence of a more student-centered approach with adults. Interaction analysis provided an objective…

The adult and community (ACE) sector and technical and futher education (TAFE) institutes provide programs for young people which re-connect them to education. This report suggests these programs and settings are considered effective pathways for some young people who have left school early. The researchers found students are attracted to the…

This paper presents thoughts resulting from review of proposals by state developmental disabilities authorities, submitted to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, that were designs for change initiatives in self-determination systems. These reflections on the use of service money and the provision of supports to people with developmental…