Under federal and California law, cost alone cannot be used as a defense for modifying or denying education and support services to a student with a disability. This has contributed to growth in special education spending. However, funding has not kept up with costs, forcing school administrators to "encroach" upon general education…

A variety of topics on human development is covered in this annual report. The 11 articles are: (1) "Young Children's Personifying and Vitalistic Biology" (Kayoko Inagaki and Giyoo Hatano); (2) "Acoustic Analysis of Natural Maternal Speech to Preschool Language Impaired and Normal Children" (Debora L. Scheffel and Murray…

This study explored resource allocation issues in schools that had moved toward inclusive education. Rather than document or analyze actual costs, the study sought general information related to resource allocation through interviews with local special education administrators in 12 school districts across the United States. Specifically, the…

This manual presents a process for creating public-private sector partnerships on state and regional levels focused on increasing job opportunities for people with disabilities. The manual's four chapters follow the recommended program planning process. The first chapter offers suggestions for building a cadre of consumer, private sector, and…

This digest summarizes the underlying structure, concepts, and ideology of the Project NEXUS manual, "A Community Approach to an Integrated Service System" (CAISS). Project NEXUS is a 3-year project charged with the development and field-testing of a technical assistance manual to aid communities in the development and/or improvement of…

This paper describes the District of Columbia's system for tracking at-risk and disabled infants during their first 3 years of life. The project involves a computerized system for following the developmental progress of at-risk infants identified at birth or other times. The project monitors the activities of children within various service…

This monograph presents identified best practices in the development of Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP) as required for families who have young children with disabilities, by Public Law 99-457, the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments (1986). Chapter One presents an overview of the monograph's development and use. Chapter Two…

Results are reported of a study conducted to determine the status of available facility space in 113 North Carolina institutions of higher education at the end of the drop-add period of the 1990 fall term. Information is presented in four sections which reflect the four broad facilities concerns for which data is provided: the utilization of…

A project developed competency profiles identifying entry-level skills and employability skills to be acquired by handicapped students before graduation. Research literature was reviewed to identify generalizable skills, employability skills, self-help skills, and job skills. Feedback was obtained from practitioners in the field regarding rating…

The goal of this conference was to assist early childhood professionals in their efforts to provide training to parents and family-focused, community-based transitions between preschool and school. The conference was also designed to assure children access to a high quality, developmentally appropriate preschool; adequate nutrition; and health…

The vocational education satellite teleconference project accomplished two goals: (1) identified, acquired, copied, and distributed to the Illinois Vocational Curriculum Center 100 marketing or training videotapes for staff development and classroom use; and (2) provided from 15-25 variable time (1- to 3-hour) satellite teleconferences in four…

This paper reviews the current literature on the suggested uses of play for assessment, prevention, and intervention with special needs children. The paper also uses case studies to illustrate the ways play is being used to facilitate achievement of early intervention goals and discusses advantages and disadvantages of these uses of play. The…

The learning disabilities support program at the University of Michigan was evaluated in a multiple case study with 11 students with learning disabilities (10 males and 1 female and aged 19 to 24 years). The program includes a structured format that focuses on individual needs within specific courses. It employs scaffolding and training of…

This report describes the Federal commitment to improve early intervention services that enhance development and minimize the later dependence of infants and toddlers with handicaps. It presents the results of a joint study, completed by the Department of Education (DoE) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), of early intervention…

This guide is designed to help teachers and parents help handicapped children to acquire the mechanics of language and develop ways of communicating with others. The text covers: (1) establishing objectives for language mastery; (2) birth and development of language; (3) contributions and limitations of the child's environmental context; (4)…