The Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, as part of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, requires programs to use standardized assessments to report learning gains for students in adult education programs. In addition, local and state agencies need an accountability tool for students who are difficult to assess adequately with a…

This paper addresses issues related to the development of geographic literacy by describing, explaining, and discussing these issues as they relate to the current reform movement in the teaching of geography. Emphasis is placed on how this information relates to students with learning disabilities. The paper emphasizes the importance of effective…

Grouped in 16 categories, the 2004 Programs in Brief illustrates the scope of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) activities, as well as their shared goals of safer, healthier people here and around the world. Each description includes a statement of the public health…

Ninety-two primary caregivers in residences for the developmentally disabled were surveyed on residential staff roles, training responsibilities, and perception of resident needs. Among results are that residential staff viewed basic facility maintenance as a primary responsibility; and that less than 50 percent of the staff could define basic…

Considerations related to the design and development of a respite care service delivery network for families of developmentally disabled persons are addressed. A five-component model for developing a respite care service network is presented, focusing on the need for competency-based service-provider training and parent involvement. Lastly,…

Evaluated construct validity of the Missouri Children's Behavior Checklist scales and behavior profiles by determining the relationship between the MCBC and the clinical findings of an interdisciplinary evaluation of children (N=217) referred for developmental disabilities. Analyses showed substantial association between the MCBC and clinical…

Describes the application of teleconferencing and videotape in a regional inter-university series of training programs for students studying developmental disabilities. Five references are cited. (FM)

Teacher effectiveness in identifying children "at risk" for learning problems was studied with five Head Start teachers. Results showed that, after training in classroom observation techniques, paraprofessional teachers are capable of identifying developmental delays in children. (PHR)

Thirty families with a developmentally disabled child less than 1.5 years old were compared to 30 families with a nonhandicapped child. Half of the families lived in California, and half in Denmark. Parents with a very young developmentally disabled child saw themselves more negatively after the baby's birth and expressed more negative feelings…

Explores the impact of community violence on the development of young children, especially those with developmental disabilities. Characteristics of young children's responses to stress and trauma are reviewed and child, family, and community factors which contribute to resilience are identified. Intervention approaches are suggested. (Author/DB)

Presents a general model of the structure and functioning of managed care and describes elements (provider networks, fiscal elements, risk estimation, case-mix, management information systems, practice parameters, and quality improvement) critical to people with developmental disabilities. Managed care demonstration projects and a hypothetical…

Investigates the effects of child behavior problems on teachers' (N=3) intervention fidelity across two intervention protocols: escape extinction and functional communication training. Results indicate that a high rate of behavior problems during escape extinction appeared to punish teachers' efforts. A low rate of behavior problems was evident…

Thirty pairs of fathers and mothers who had school-age children with developmental disabilities were compared with each other and with 32 parent pairs of typical children. Results indicated no differences between the fathers and mothers of children with disabilities; however, these parents did experience more parental stress than others.…

The importance of evaluation in early childhood interventions of infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities is discussed. Eight questions guiding the evaluation process are presented, focusing on intervention expectations, purposes of intervention, personalization of intervention, and specification of anticipated outcomes, among others.…

This article discusses four necessary elements of the self-advocacy movement: gaining awareness of one's social and political situation; gaining awareness of individual strengths and potential; taking action through participation in community organizations; and having advisors collaborate with people with disabilities rather than treating them as…