This handbook is intended to serve as a procedural guide for Utah school districts to improve the assessment and classification process for students who are behavior disordered. The handbook reviews Utah's definition of behavior disorders and explains some of the ambiguous terminology in the definition. The topic of social maladjustment is…

This study investigated the use of the Draw-a-Person: Screening Procedure for Emotional Disturbance (DAP:SPED) with students enrolled in classes for children with emotional disturbances (ED), learning disabilities (LD), or cognitive disabilities (CD). The DAP:SPED was administered to 39 students in a large urban area in eastern Wisconsin and to 31…

The article describes the current public policy environment and its impact on efforts to refine the system for identifying and serving mildly handicapped students. Areas requiring attention are cited for discussion, including revisions in the service delivery system, personnel preparation, administration of programs and funding structures, and…

Programs for learning-disabled students should: minimize the use of self-contained classes; organize one-to-one remediation for the severely learning disabled; organize teacher assistance teams; identify and remediate learning disabilities at the preschool level; and educate regular teachers to deal with minor handicaps in the classroom. (CB)

The process whereby children are identified as learning disabled (LD) and the validity of subsequent educational placements were evaluated. A representative sample of 1,000 students were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively, and extensive questionnaires were administered to LD teachers, principals, and other professionals involved in LD…

This report discusses assessment procedures for young children who are culturally and linguistically diverse and describes three practices that the authors feel should be added to the currently recommended DEC practices. In the first place, professionals should gather information prior to assessment to determine whether a child should be referred…

This report discusses the outcomes of a study that investigated the effectiveness of the Preschool and Early Childhood Functional Assessment Scale (PECFAS) Screener, an assessment designed to assist in the early identification of mental health concerns in preschool-aged children. Formed in 1993, the Putting All Communities Together 4 Families…

This document is the outcome of a conference that examined promising practices in services for children with developmental delays (DD) and gathered input for making policy recommendations related to the implementation of DD as a specific disability category for children ages 3 through 9. It begins by discussing changes to the Individuals with…

This report discusses the outcomes of a study that used qualitative data to examine the concept of attention deficit disorders from an international perspective. Surveys were conducted in two different parts of the world (West Virginia and Pakistan) among elementary school teachers. Seventy-two Pakistani school teachers and 149 American school…

This report provides information on the percentages of Native Alaskans and other minorities in the special education programs of four Alaskan school districts. It was prompted by a civil rights complaint by parents in the Juneau School District alleging that Native Alaskans were overrepresented in special education programs. The complaint was…

This study examined the educational records of 36 children who met all or most of the criteria for fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and who were referred to special education in Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Juneau (Alaska) school districts. Thirty of the children were found to have medical comorbidities independent of the findings generally associated…

Designed for Spanish-speaking parents, this brochure, written in Spanish, uses a car-trip analogy to describe special education services for students with disabilities. It addresses: (1) child find; (2) initial evaluation and eligibility determination; (3) categories of students who receive special education services and related services; (4)…

This pamphlet provides parents of children with disabilities with information on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 with respect to preschool, elementary, and secondary school policies involving placement of children with physical and mental disabilities. Topics covered include: (1) the history of the legislation; (2) the definitions of…

This kit for assessing central auditory processing disorders (CAPD), in children in grades 1 through 8 includes 3 books, 14 full-color cards with picture scenes, and a card depicting a phone key pad, all contained in a sturdy carrying case. The units in each of the three books correspond with auditory skill areas most commonly addressed in…

The chart presented in this paper offers an overview of the special education process. It is not designed to show all steps or the specific details. It shows what happens from the time a child is referred for evaluation and is identified as having a disability, through the development of an individualized education program (IEP). The process…