Diabetes currently affects 20.8 million people in the United States and is the leading cause of blindness in people between the ages of 20 and 74 years. The author uses a fictional but typical example to explain the ways in which low vision specialists can improve the diabetes self-management program of a person with low vision and demonstrates…

Schools are a primary setting for the provision of services to children with social, emotional, and behavioral problems. School social workers serve a vital role in identifying, assessing, serving, and referring students suffering from myriad mental health problems, including depression. Starting with a discussion of gathering valid assessment…

In this paper, we review various challenges in regard to educating children with and without disabilities from culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) backgrounds. The challenges discussed include (1) biased assessment that results in mis- or overrepresenting CLD students in special education, (2) difficulty distinguishing between disability…

Behavioral and emotional strengths are important to consider when understanding youth mental health and treatment. This study examined the association between youth strengths and functional impairment and whether this association is modified by race/ethnicity. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to estimate the effects of strengths on…

Classroom management continues to be a serious concern for teachers and especially in urban and diverse learning environments. The authors present the culturally responsive classroom management practices of two teachers from an urban and diverse middle school to extend the construct, culturally responsive classroom management. The principles that…

Background: Children who meet language test criteria for specific language impairment (SLI) are not necessarily the same as those who are referred to a speech and language therapist. Aims: To consider how far this discrepancy reflects insensitivity of traditional language tests to clinically important features of language impairment. Methods &…

This case study describes a rural school district's efforts to identify historically underrepresented gifted students (HUGS) more effectively than in the past. The district developed new policy; disseminated the policy with lists of characteristics of HUGS; provided a workshop for first-grade teachers to encourage early referrals; and provided…

The relationship between referral and special education outcome was investigated in the State of Florida, where students are referred by category (i.e., referred for learning disability services, mental retardation services, etc.). Of specific interest was the congruence between categories for which students were referred and eventual placements.…

This booklet provides extension personnel with basic information on how to help handicapped individuals through referral to the appropriate service provider. A series of steps is suggested for locating help for a client when no appropriate service provider can be readily located. Lists are then presented of possible sources of help in these areas:…

Individual child data from the Preschool Screening Programs of 402 Minnesota school districts were analyzed for problem identification and referral rates, areas of problem identification and referral, sex differences in rates, and other factors. The results from over 45,000 children revealed large variability in rates among school districts, as…

The paper provides guidelines for the classroom teacher in making effective referrals for special education services. The three phases of the referral process are delineated: (1) identification of the problem, (2) documentation/intervention, and (3) the activation of screening and staffing teams. Detailed suggestions for conducting the activities…

The current view of the multidimensional nature of learning difficulties includes visual difficulties as one contributing factor. Although many researchers decry the use of the Snellen Test as the sole screening device, this test is still the most commonl y used vision screening instrument in our nation's schools. Findings of numerous studies…

This brief study utilizes the source of referral as a means of assessing agency effectiveness. (Author)

The articles outlines the teacher's responsibilities regarding the identification and treatment of the abused or neglected child in her classroom. (SBH)