This report presents findings from the first 2 years of a 4-year longitudinal study of outcomes for approximately 600 students with disabilities after leaving public school. The study is one component of the Special Education Effectiveness Studies. The study evaluated student outcomes in four life skill areas: (1) employment; (2) independent…

This bulletin issue presents highlights from the "15th Annual Report to Congress," which provides a detailed description of the activities undertaken to implement the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and an assessment of the impact and effectiveness of its requirements. The bulletin provides brief narrative sections on…

A survey was conducted of 174 certified school personnel (including special education teachers, administrators, regular classroom teachers, vocational teachers, counselors, and aides) in the Mississippi Delta concerning their attitudes toward special education and toward students with disabilities. Overall, the educators expressed slightly…

This study attempted to identify potential measures for evaluating the multiple outcomes and activities associated with programs designed to promote employment of youths with disabilities. It sought to identify measures for 17 program outcomes and 51 associated activities that had been identified previously by model demonstration transition…

Intended for children, adolescents, or young adults with learning disabilities, this booklet stresses understanding the disability and building self esteem. The booklet begins with brief vignettes of famous people who had trouble learning then goes on to specify what a learning disability is and is not with emphasis on learning to understand one's…

This paper addresses the involvement of students with severe communication disorders in school curricula. First, current best practices regarding eligibility for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) services are addressed. This is followed by a discussion of whether students who use AAC systems should be educated in regular or special…

This report on the fourth year of Colorado's participation in Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act describes major accomplishments in preparing for full implementation of Part H in Year 5. Accomplishments in the following areas are discussed: state definition of developmental delay, central directory, timetables for serving…

This digest examines the mandates and requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). (Its scope does not include the IDEA's Part H program.) The digest gives a brief history of the IDEA, procedures for obtaining a copy of the IDEA and its regulations, and procedures for obtaining a copy of an individual state's special…

This paper examines issues related to the screening and assessment of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with disabilities or at risk for disabilities, from families of various cultural and linguistic backgrounds. An introductory section outlines issues of cultural and linguistic competence and provides definitions of key terms. Interviews are…

This resource guide and the accompanying videotapes are based on the artist-generated lesson plans of the Very Special Arts Massachusetts artist residency program. Six arts units are presented: Collage, Puppetry, Movement I & II, Printmaking I & II, Theater Arts I & II, and Self Concept I & II. Each of these units consists of…

Wisconsin supports the implementation of equity as a critical component of achievement-oriented, reality-based education. This publication was designed to assist districts in conducting ongoing self-evaluations. It outlines requirements (with the legal citations for each), notes benchmarks, and includes suggestions for evaluation methods.…

This document presents the proceedings of a conference attended by Project Directors (or their designees) of projects funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and having a significant component of technical assistance (TA) and/or dissemination activities. The conference was designed to provide new information to projects, to…

This practicum sought to reduce the number of inappropriate referrals to a rural school system's Special Education Department from the private sector, by increasing the private sector's knowledge of eligibility criteria for learning disability services. A school social worker conducted individualized consultations with clinicians in the private…

The goal of Project NETWORC was to develop a cost-effective model for providing preservice and inservice training in rural areas to individuals interested in working, or already working, with young children with special needs. In cooperation with the department of Instructional Media Services of the University of Nevada, Reno, the project…

Intended for adolescents and young adults with learning disabilities and their parents, this curriculum addresses specific social skill problems identified in a needs assessment completed by parents. Two introductory chapters, one for parents and one for young adults, precede the curriculum. Chapter 1 examines how the individual's surroundings…