The concept of "Response to Intervention ' is finding its way into schools with a significant push from the federal government and with a particular emphasis on reducing inappropriate diagnoses for special education. This issue of the quarterly newsletter of the Center for Mental Health in Schools includes the following features and regular…

This packet of materials focuses on the self-advocacy of individuals with disabilities. Part 1 includes: "Self-Advocacy: Speaking for Yourself" (Michael Kennedy and Patricia Killius), an article written by individuals with disabilities that discusses the importance of people with disabilities making their own decisions and having a say…

This study examined parents' feelings of confidence in their parenting ability among 56 individuals enrolled in 5 parent education programs in Mississippi, hypothesizing that there would be significant correlations between personal authority in the family system and a parent's confidence in performing the various roles of parenting. Based on…

This paper briefly introduces the reader to the notions of learner training and learner autonomy. It makes practical suggestions as to how training might be woven into the typical short summer language program, in the hope that it might improve the students' effectiveness during and after the course. It is argued that this can be done in three…

This paper describes the Leadership Opportunity Forums for high school students sponsored by the Explorer's Post of the Birmingham Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The goal of the forum was to increase student leadership behaviors through informational sessions, needs assessment, informal discussions, shared meals, outdoor physical…

Used an exchange theory model to examine the remarriage behavior of 26 financially secure and insecure women. Results showed financially secure women had more opportunities to date but were more likely to be independent in their relationships with men and less anxious to remarry. (JAC)

Addresses problem areas encountered by families with learning-disabled children: parental self-blame and mourning, family life, the child's biological-psychological-social growth, and the child's achievement of independence. Argues that social workers have skills needed for effective remedial intervention. (RH)

A sample of 98 adolescents completed the Loneliness Questionnaire and provided information about themselves. The results revealed no significant differences with regard to individual demographic variables. Delinquent adolescents with medium to high needs for control indicated significantly more feelings of loneliness. (Author/JAC)

Emotional responses and coping behavior in children (eight boys and eight girls in each of three age groups: 6 to 12 months, 18 to 36 months, and 42 to 60 months) were observed during pediatric examinations. Results showed the effect of age and time period (before, during, or following the examination) on children's levels of negative emotion. (MP)

Describes two forms of telematics, audiographics and live interactive television, that are being used for distance education in Western Australia. Effective telematics teaching is discussed, including collaboration, generative learning, contextual engagement, personal autonomy, and motivation. Recommendations for further research are included.…

This case study applied functional assessment methods to problem behavior of an adult male with severe mental retardation within the natural home setting. The problem behaviors did not occur when the subject was able to participate in a more preferred activity regardless of whether he chose the day activity program or it was chosen for him. (DB)

This study used surveys, interactive focus groups, and telephone interviews to explore the concept of advocacy and advocacy activities experienced by 32 parents and 11 individuals with developmental disabilities. Advocacy activities and supports (such as communication skills and networking) and barriers to successful advocacy (such as costs and…

Parents from families referred by a social service department completed a questionnaire measuring ego differentiation among family members and provided information from which a genogram of families' multigenerational relationship systems was constructed. Results indicated that families had lower levels of differentiation than a nonclinical norm…

Ideas about parent and adolescent responsibilities were explored in a sample of 195 adolescent females, 192 mothers, and 153 maternal grandmothers to study generational differences. Survey results indicate that adolescents were more likely to link parental provision of material goods with autonomy issues than were their mothers or grandmothers.…

Examines the influence of parent-child collaboration on children's social competence with peers and the role of parents' and child's gender. Provides evidence that when parents collaborate with children, children's social competence with peers increases and that children's social competence is influenced more by the parent of the same sex than by…