This article reviews key applied research issues relevant to people with autism, including: systems delivery models and issues, how best to integrate treatments, providing treatments to those with limited monetary resources, cost and cost/benefit analyses, how to educate adult psychiatrists regarding autism, and gaps between research and practice.…

A study investigated the experiences of 22 families of children (age 3) with disabilities as they entered, participated in, and exited the transition process. The shift in service delivery models was often problematic, families were given a limited choice of preschool programs, and few programs offered inclusive service models. (Contains…

In a two-year program, general educators and gifted education specialists at 10 elementary schools collaborated to provide differentiated educational experiences to gifted learners. Results indicate the Catalyst Program was an effective delivery system for providing differentiated education to gifted learners and had positive spill-over effects…

The experiences of a group of evaluators evaluating a multisite integrated human service delivery system illustrate many design and measurement considerations in the preimplementation and implementation phases of evaluation. The reemergence of human service integration approaches will make such evaluation issues increasingly common. (SLD)

The Schoolwide Enrichment Model is a blueprint for total school improvement that stresses flexibility and creativity and promotes challenging, enjoyable learning across all school types, levels, and demographic differences. The model combines organizational resources with three service-delivery components: the total-talent portfolio,…

This study analyzed data from surveys returned by 319 itinerant teachers of students with hearing impairments. Analysis of responses suggests that itinerant teaching differs in numerous ways from more traditional special class and resource room approaches. Implications are considered, in light of the increasing use of the itinerant service…

Measures service quality from the viewpoint of customers (students at an Australian university), using the SERVQUAL model. Obtains evaluations of academic and administrative aspects of the educational service. Makes significant negative evaluations of administrative service quality (resulting from communication problems). Satisfaction with the…

Viewing equity as paramount, child advocates attempt to secure a just proportion of resources for children. Children need parents as individual advocates, given the lack of institutions to promote children's well-being. Parents are natural advocates, due to special knowledge about their children's needs, strong commitment to their success, and…

Focus groups of early intervention therapists, nontherapist professionals, administrators, and family members were interviewed to determine challenges to providing specialized therapies to young children with disabilities. Results indicated a perception that policy/administrative constraints and a shortage of pediatric therapists caused services…

A national agenda for the education of children and youth with visual impairments has been developed by eight national organizations. Agenda goals focus on referrals, parent participation, personnel preparation, provision of educational services, array of services, assessments, access to instructional materials, and the core curriculum. The…

Any curriculum may be updated or revised by convening a constituent task force, developing a mission statement, creating goals and learning outcomes, using a comparison matrix to link goals and outcomes, analyzing current curriculum goal/outcome gaps, deciding preferred delivery methodologies, revising and fine tuning, and assessing outcomes.…

A former mental health counselor and managed-care case manager provides insights on dealing with managed care organizations. Offers suggestions on how mental health counselors can develop working relationships with case managers, do treatment planning, submit claims forms, and resolve disputes. (Author/JDM)

Examined the process of marketization undergone by higher education in Hong Kong with particular reference to the strategies and approaches adopted by the University Grants Committee, the central funding body for higher education in Hong Kong, to ensure a "value-for-money" higher education. Discusses the implications of a management…

Newly enrolled graduate students at the University of North Carolina completed the Graduate Orientation Assessment Questionnaire to determine if orientation needs were best met through departmental or campus-wide efforts. Data collected indicate that social and academic needs are best met through departmental activities, whereas information on…

This article provides guidance for practitioners interested in creating or refining speech-language services at the high school level to promote academic success for students. Problems in providing high school speech-language services, the context for designing programs at this level, the role of the speech-language pathologist, and best practices…