An augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) intervention was designed to increase vocabulary acquisition in five mild to moderately handicapped children (ages seven to nine) in a self-contained class. The intervention resulted in high rates of vocabulary and sentence selection for all the children, an improvement which persisted after…

A social behavior training package was implemented with 9 children (ages 12-13) with deafness and language disabilities. The package included child training as well as supervision, feedback, and goal-setting by teachers and residential staff members. Target behaviors increased and were generalized across settings, activities, and subjects during…

Explores attitudes toward, and usage and roles of, Portuguese among colonized African countries, particularly in terms of African literature. It is concluded that most Lusophone African writers have surpassed their dependency on Portuguese by using and changing it according to their own political sovereignty and cultural autonomy. (19 references)…

Ways that mother tongue and foreign languages are taught in Belgian, especially Flemish, secondary schools are discussed. Some "out-of-school" activities are reported that seem to have a significant effect on students' awareness of languages. The extent to which topics and subthemes of language awareness are present in official curricula…

Effective and efficient management of school district custodial and maintenance services can be achieved by contracting out these services. A competent management company will offer a computerized management system and a complete training program. Prospective management companies should also offer management and cost controls. (MLF)

Discusses ways in which media specialists and media center administrators structure their tasks and responsibilities in the areas of equipment purchasing; collection building, especially content-relevant videotapes and videodiscs; copyright considerations; and the repair of equipment. (LRW)

Examines the impact of the Sekani (British Columbia, Canada) homeland's village, economic, and political reorganization on cultural and language maintenance, focusing on why the Sekani speak English when there is little direct contact with Euro-Canadians and no particular advantages. (Author/CB)

Constant time delay procedures were used to teach 15 multiplication facts in 1 hour to a 10-year-old student with mild learning handicaps and behavioral disorders. Correct levels of responding were maintained and generalized across persons and settings up to 8 weeks after training. (DB)

A brief description of factors affecting the generally neglected study of reversing language shift (RLS) is presented. and An eight-step model for building and planning such research, taking into consideration such influences as community and neighborhood, family, and school, is described. (CB)

Explores the implementation of total quality management in the maintenance and operations department of an upstate New York school district. Four figures illustrate the problem-solving process. (MLF)

Three teachers were trained in environmental strategies and milieu teaching procedures to use in interactions with preschool children using augmented communication systems. All three teachers learned the procedures and generalized and maintained their use. The three target children showed increases in total communication and use of targets.…

Discusses the current endangered state of Canada's indigenous languages and the culpability of church and state in this situation. Presents legal and moral reasons why the Government of Canada should enact legislation to protect and revitalize Aboriginal languages. Offers examples of similar legislation enacted in the Northwest Territories and…

Describes the essential features of a health care system that can meet the special needs of children in out-of-home care. Discusses some of the major recent changes brought about by welfare and health care reform. Notes that it remains to be seen whether the quality of services will improve as a result of these reforms. (Author)

Offers tips on how to find the best lighting solution for school facilities that is also cost effective. Tips include looking for energy-efficient lighting systems that help cut long-term costs; using high-quality lighting that reduces the number of fixtures needed; and considering heating and air-conditioning loads, daylight entering the…

Presents recommendations for contracting elements that should be adopted by state Medicaid agencies and approaches that should be taken by managed care practices interested in providing high-quality care for children with special needs. These recommendations are based on interviews with administrators from 29 states and 22 plans. (SLD)