This guide is intended to help parents and practitioners utilize natural settings to meet the developmental and health-related needs of infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities. The mission statement of the Connecticut Birth to Three System is summarized and the term "natural settings" is elaborated on. Federal…

This paper reviews historical aspects of play, issues about recess time, and implications for children who have disabilities. It also describes the need for research to acquire information from stakeholders. Play is pleasurable, enjoyable, intrinsic, and the active base for cognitive, social, motor, and language development in children.…

This document is comprised of the two 1998 issues of a magazine for parents, teachers, and others involved in cooperative nursery schools. The magazine is designed to provide a forum for views on dealing with young children, express a variety of ideas, promote the cooperative philosophy, and to enhance the relationships of those involved in…

This guide provides adolescents with information on depression. An introduction discusses symptoms of depression and lists famous people who were known to be depressed. Part 1, "What's Wrong," explores how it feels to be depressed, the causes and types of depression, and the connections between depression, suicide, and drug and alcohol abuse. A…

This brief discusses the transition of high school students with disabilities to adult life. Federal law provisions that require a transition plan for all students who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) are reviewed and a checklist is provided that outlines positive transition planning practices that can be used for self-evaluation and…

This book considers legal questions, theoretical issues, and practical methods for meeting the assessment needs of students with disabilities. It is comprised of ten chapters and includes test accommodation topics relating to federal and state regulations (including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997), problems…

Designed for parents of students with physical injuries, this guide provides information to help families plan for the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Chapter 1 discusses shifting goals and expectations, including getting work experience, having friends and dating, and becoming independent. Chapter 2 addresses job exploration and…

A disproportionately high number of minority students are referred by general education teachers for placement in special education. Teacher perception of social skills and problem behaviors of African American male students with and without identified disabling conditions was studied with 44 African American urban male students in grades 3, 4,…

This paper summarizes the research literature on the best ways for teachers to communicate with parents of children with disabilities. The relatively scanty empirical research suggests that what actually works with parents is not always what teachers expect. Findings suggest that research-tested methods of communication with parents of children…

This study describes how European countries deal with the issues and practicalities surrounding early intervention services. The current situation in relation to early intervention is examined in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, England and Wales, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Holland, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Luxembourg, Iceland,…

This book provides research in the area of educational play for early childhood teachers and teacher educators. Following an introduction by the editors, the chapters of the book are: (1) "A Historical Overview of Theories of Play" (Olivia Saracho and Bernard Spodek); (2) "Playing with a Theory of Mind" (Angeline Lillard); (3)…

To determine the effectiveness of special education and transition planning for students with disabilities in Texas, a 6-year study was conducted between 1990 and 1996. Data for the first 5 years were collected, analyzed, and reported by the Texas Education Agency, but the Region XI Education Service Center was designated to complete the sixth…

This very brief paper summarizes 20 major findings of research on 3000 gifted children over 19 years at the Gifted Development Center (Denver, Colorado). Among findings are: (1) there are more highly gifted children than previously recognized; (2) when one child is gifted, the chances are great that all siblings are gifted; (3) second children are…

This study addresses seven components of Public Law 99-457 which relate to mental health intervention to meet the comprehensive early needs of infants and toddlers with, or at risk for, disabilities. The seven components include: the definition of "developmentally delayed"; multidisciplinary evaluation; the individualized family service…

This handbook for Adult Basic Education (ABE) and General Educational Development (GED) instruction synthesizes research and combines it with selected instructional strategies for instructors, tutors, and volunteers. This handbook is a reference tool that sets the scene for instruction in literacy and adult basic education. The handbook includes…