College compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 requires that sensitivity to the needs of all students be a high priority for student activities programming. This includes attention to office accessibility, balanced representation on program boards, sensitivity training, accessibility of activities, and publicity designed to…

The paper explores elements necessary to develop a stable, well-prepared itinerant instructional team (the Multilingual/Multiethnic Instructional Service team) to serve linguistically diverse exceptional students. Such a team would utilize paraprofessionals under the direct supervision of a certified special education teacher, allowing districts…

A field-tested instruction and assessment model is described that fosters development of second-language skills by integrating writing with listening, speaking, reading, and problem solving. The model draws upon elements of process-oriented instruction, whole language learning, cooperative learning, cognitive mapping, and reading and writing…

This study involved 524 students in 2 elementary schools in analyzing the effects of instructional service changes. Services included cooperative learning for sixth grade students, cross-age tutoring for special/remedial students in grades 1-3, and in-class services for all grade levels. None of the three treatments had much impact on achievement.…

This study examined the effect of an introductory class on applications of computer-based technology, completed by nine special education majors. The course did not affect participants' attitudes toward computers or their ratings of instructional software programs but did enhance participants' self-perceived competence in using computers.…

Following a literature review, this article offers a model of staff development including multiple demonstrations of innovations, opportunities for practice in the training setting; and coaching to facilitate transfer and integration. Application of the model in a low-income, low-achievement school and implications for the Regular Education…

The survey of 79 group homes for persons with mental handicap in two provinces of the Netherlands found a positive relationship between age and certain sensory handicaps and chronic diseases, as well as the co-incidence of certain health problems. (Author/DB)

This study found that siblings (n=19) of severely autistic children, siblings of children with Down's syndrome, and siblings of normal children did not differ on measures of perceived self-competence or parents' report of social competence. Siblings of autistic children had more internalizing and externalizing behavior problems than siblings of…

This article offers the Integrated Strategies Instruction Model as a method for teaching content-area lessons to students with mild disabilities, using a variety of graphic organizers. The model lends itself to both teacher-directed and student-directed learning activities. (DB)

Chronicles the experiences of a second-grade teacher as she accepts special-education students into her regular education classroom and emphasizes the cooperation between the special education teacher in charge of academic development and the regular education teacher who focused on the special education students' social development and the…

Addresses variables affecting disproportionate minority representation in gifted and special-education programs including the definition of ethnicity, disability categories, and special education knowledge producers. An historical research synthesis to provide an in-depth chronology of past reform efforts, current trends, proposed solutions,…

A question-and-answer format is used to summarize requirements concerning suspension and expulsion of students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997. Questions address definitions, due process rights, suspension and expulsion as a "change of placement," the Interim Alternative…

A study that followed 1,008 children from prekindergarten through grade seven or eight for 13 years found that defining reading comprehension disability in terms of a discrepancy between group-administered tests of listening and reading comprehension provided a fairly accurate estimate of the stability, gender ratio, and prevalence of the…

Describes and evaluates the "TopClass" educational-server software system for the delivery of university-based special-education coursework via the World Wide Web. A pilot study of the development and delivery of instructional content via TopClass found positive student reactions and indicators of student learning. Issues related to Web-based…

This commentary offers 10 critical characterizations of contemporary special education and 5 major implications for the future of the field. It urges special educators to turn their attention unambiguously and forcefully to empirical research to generate reliable common knowledge of effective instruction of students with disabilities. (Author/CR)