This article responds to critiques of "Natural Supports in the Workplace: The Jury Is Still Out" (Test and Wood) by focusing on what was on trial, the need to define natural supports, the interaction between policy and practice, and implications of natural supports on personnel preparation. (CR)

Twenty-nine elementary teachers participated in a 2-week summer reading institute and received follow-up support. Teachers identified as high implementers, moderate implementers, and low implementers lamented a lack of instructional time, however, high-implementing teachers reported administrative support as their top facilitator, while five…

A study examined how 28 components of Outward Bound Western Canada (OBWC) courses affected student self-concept, motivation, and interpersonal skills. Data from questionnaires, interviews, and observations of 92 OBWC students generally supported previous research, but also indicated that the objectives of compassion and service received less…

This paper addresses the theoretical and practical concerns of transition-related career assessment for adolescents with mild disabilities. It defines assessment terms and then discusses the applicability of prominent career theories. Primary career assessment areas that support the preparation of adolescents with mild disabilities are identified.…

Discusses how orienting a student to a Primary Montessori program is influenced by the child's experience in an Assistants to Infancy program. Maintains that introducing the zero-to-three sub plane changes the overall character of a school, requiring a new theory-practice framework for parent education, the role of the school in all-day programs,…

Analysis of special education services in British Columbia (BC) for students with learning disabilities in light of a current legal challenge finds the province's policies and practices are supported by theory and research on best practices. However, BC's Ministry of Education is urged to ensure policies are enacted consistently and to increase…

Discussion of school-to-work (STW) transitions for youth with mild disabilities first summarizes current research and models of practice on STW transition in special education, then identifies implicit yet infrequently named theories in research and practice, makes connections to STW theories outside special education, and suggests how emerging…

Discussion of personnel preparation in autism spectrum disorders considers areas of concern including the current teacher shortage and attrition among special education teachers, noncategorical versus categorical teacher training, lack of scope and depth of most autism training models, clashes in theoretical orientations, and interactions with…

Asserts that although there are distinct characteristics to each of Montessori's planes of development, there is no separation, especially between early childhood and childhood. Suggests that these first two planes of education could fall under one "Children's House," and points to the path of responsibility and the steps toward living in society…

Lesbian women of color may seek professional help to find their way through the challenges of being a triple minority. The authors discuss specific issues faced by African American, Asian American, Latina American, and Native American lesbian women, offering guidelines for affirmative practice when working with these women in a counseling context.…

This article details a consensus-building initiative to develop a statewide research agenda responding to needs of Illinois's child welfare community. Researchers conducted this process through a university-community partnership to engage those interested in child welfare services, and produced a document to guide child welfare research throughout…

Discusses the need for research in the field of library and information science and describes results of questionnaires sent to library association members that investigated how many practitioners read at least one research journal, how many read research-based articles, how many apply research results to professional practices, and how many…

This paper reviews inclusive education research evidence and needs of British students with disabilities, considering the development of inclusive practices, special educational needs and disability models, and the values underlying inclusion. It urges rigorous research to inform policy and practice on the rights of children and the effectiveness…

Review of scientifically based reading research as it applies to students with hearing impairments stresses the importance of (1) early intervention, (2) active learning opportunities, (3) teaching strategies for reading fluency, and (4) applying teacher interventions such as miscue analysis. The importance of identifying and implementing…

The reading comprehension performance of 30 third-graders with hearing impairments from the United Arab Emirates was examined under three teaching conditions, the key word strategy, modified reciprocal teaching, and the basic reading approach. Key word strategy and modified reciprocal teaching significantly enhanced performance in reading…