Discussion of components of preverbal communicative competence in typically developing infants is related to development of children with severe physical impairment (SPI). Specifically, eye gaze, attention, and gesture are described as they relate to reciprocity, consistency, and predictability of infant-caregiver interactions. Intervention…

This article presents a vision for early childhood personnel preparation that could be achieved by grassroots public support for early intervention through "learning communities". It discusses three areas where changes are critical: collaboration among multiple partners at multiple levels, attending to diversity issues, and promoting family…

Describes a workshop at the University of Hawaii at Manoa targeted at students overcoming academic difficulties and readmitted after a one-semester suspension. Participants are encouraged to use campus resources, make better decisions, and connect with other students and the institution. Preliminary evaluation suggests the workshop is an efficient…

Identifies three strategies for reducing challenging behaviors in students. They include teaching parents how to interact with their children in order to set limits, social skills training for students, and insuring a measure of academic success for the students. Advocates a three-tiered schoolwide prevention and intervention. (Author/JDM)

Although postsecondary participation has soared during the past quarter century, the proportion of college students completing degrees has remained flat. White and higher-income kids graduate at much higher rates than their less advantaged classmates. Public policy's challenge is expanding successful intervention programs to a vastly larger scale.…

A drug prevention program involving 167 at-risk students in grades 8-10 at 9 Ontario schools resulted in reduced use of and less supportive attitudes toward alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, and tranquilizers. Program success is attributed to high attendance and retention, community health professionals' participation, comprehensive approach, strong…

Parents of 10 young students (ages 4-9) with disabilities were interviewed about their priorities for communication skill interventions for their child. Skills most important to parents were those of asking for objects, objecting to the actions of others, maintaining an interaction, and drawing attention to pain or discomfort. (Contains…

A study explored effects of a multimedia-based anchored instruction intervention on student/teacher interactions in a social studies classroom with 19 eighth graders, 9 with mild disabilities. Overall, instruction became more interactive as observational and interview data indicated a twofold increase in the number of daily student/teacher…

Results of two studies indicate the Acceptance Scale for Kindergartners was reliable with a sample of minority, low socioeconomic status children and that children exposed to all of the components of an intervention designed to promote acceptance of young children with disabilities had short-term and long-term gains in acceptance. (Contains…

Discusses how early childhood programs can blend developmentally appropriate practices with early childhood special education recommended practices. The elements of an inclusive program and the guidelines to developmentally appropriate practice are explained, and strategies for implementing both practices within the same setting are described. (CR)

Reviews the research and theory supporting the potential utility of measures of nonverbal social communication skills (such as joint attention) for young children with autism. Examples relate these types of measures to current issues, including the "recovery hypothesis," the "pivotal skill hypothesis," and the relative effectiveness of discrete…

Explores current developmental research that reveals similarities and differences in the behavior of antisocial adolescent girls and boys, the types of assessment procedures that are required to identify antisocial girls, and the treatment possibilities that spring from appropriate assessment, including hands-on learning and participation in…

Describes the use of a problem-solving negotiation model to resolve disputes under Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the need for formal education and training in problem-solving negotiation in early-intervention systems for children with disabilities. (Author/CR)

Describes a comprehensive continuum of services model for children with autism developed by a human services agency in Massachusetts, which incorporates these and additional empirically based approaches. Service components, methodologies, and program objectives are described, including representative summary data. Best practice approaches toward…

A study found the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) Family-Centeredness Rating Scale was effective in evaluating 100 IFSPs from four different agencies. The highest rated items were identifying the family's role and writing in the active voice. More child-related goals were written compared to family-related goals. (Author/CR)