A first-year special education teacher describes the guidance received from the school's educational diagnostician who served as her mentor in conjunction with an internship program of Texas A & M University. The article discusses mentor selection, the internship program, teacher and principal roles, the mentoring process, and its positive…

Factor analysis performed on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) for 252 subjects (ages 6-16), who were mentally handicapped, slow learners, or learning disabled, identified 3 factors: verbal-conceptual, perceptual-spatial, and distractibility-short-term memory. Findings suggest that the factor example can be used to…

This study examined the training options and needs of paraprofessionals who provide transition services to students with disabilities in public school and adult agencies. Questionnaire responses of 142 individuals and interviews with 27 paraprofessionals and supervisors indicated that few structured training programs for these paraprofessionals…

Provides an overview of issues and practice associated with the integration of handicapped students into regular education settings. Emphasizes the differences between mainstreaming and federally mandated provision of educational services in the "least restrictive environment." Discusses the changing roles of elementary school teachers…

This article comments on recommendations for physical education in the British National Curriculum as they pertain to children with special educational needs. It considers arguments for physical education; motor development of the child; principles of physical education for this population (entitlement, access, integration, integrity); teaching…

This study, involving 4 high school seniors with learning disabilities, found that an initial vocational social skills simulation intervention delivered at school led to generalization in 8 of 12 target behaviors (3 behaviors per student). Subsequently, in situ training at the work site produced generalization in four of six behaviors. (Author/JDD)

The "Bridges...From School to Work" project, funded at five sites by the Marriott Corporation, develops competitively paid internships for students with disabilities in their final year of high school. Of 762 students accepted by the program, 86% received internship placements, 82% completed their internships, and 75% were offered…

Secondary students (88 with learning disabilities and 103 without) completed a substance abuse screening inventory. Of the 30 students who were classified as chemically dependent, 70% were students with learning disabilities. The presence or absence of a learning disability was a better predictor of chemical dependency than gender, ethnicity, age,…

This article offers reasons for using cooperative-learning strategies in classrooms characterized by student diversity including disabilities. It provides a definition, guidelines concerning important instructional decisions prior to implementing cooperative learning, and suggestions for preparing students and evaluating student outcomes.…

The Partnerships Project involves a university, a state department of education, and a university-affiliated program in Illinois working together to implement new personnel standards for early intervention with young children having special needs. Emphasis is on technical assistance functions utilizing extensive peer review. (Author/DB)

This paper describes (1) common misconceptions about developmentally appropriate practices; (2) areas in which convergence between general and special early childhood education can be achieved; and (3) current collaborative efforts between the two disciplines (e.g., individually appropriate practices, emphasis on early intervention,…

Twenty general education teachers participated in a project that combined curriculum-based measurement (CBM) and peer tutoring (PT) for students with learning disabilities in the regular classroom. In interviews, the teachers specified a large number of academic, social, and instructional benefits of the methods, and they also identified several…

A discussion of the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) looks at the legislation's implications for the relationships between medical schools, applicants, and students. Issues examined include impact on the application/admissions process and accommodation of student disabilities. Fifteen steps for medical schools to take to comply with the act…

A program was implemented to provide a community-based living and work experience for students with mild/moderate mental retardation making the transition from high school to adult life. The program focuses on independent living skills, vocational education, and functional academic instruction. It incorporates shared resources, community-based…

This study examined the relationships among perceived levels of intoxication, blood alcohol levels, and impairment of selected psychomotor skills used in driving. Results reinforced previous findings which correlated perceptions of intoxication and other measures. These findings suggest that alcohol consumption tables, which calculate one's…