This commentary discusses the views of the Nursing Division of the American Association on Mental Retardation on the issue of medication administration by unlicensed assistive personnel. The need for professional registered nurses to engage in the initial and ongoing training and evaluation of unlicensed assistive personnel is emphasized. (CR)

The study examined impact of office automation on the roles and staffing patterns of office employees at the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke. Results of an interview study indicate that automation has had a favorable impact on the way work is accomplished and on the work environment. (Author/CH)

The article proposes that issues of countertransference should be addressed in training persons mandated to report suspected cases of child abuse/neglect. Recommended mechanisms include teaching about the influence of countertransference reactions, identifying a community child abuse expert for consultation, and educating case workers about the…

This article, the second of a three-part series, outlines neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and cardiopulmonary physical therapy approaches to movement dysfunction in children. The multiple roles of the pediatric physical therapist in teaching, consulting, managing, referring, and conducting clinical research are discussed. (Author/DB)

This article discusses ways that early intervention team members can improve their communication, qualities of effective teams, roles that members assume on teams, a step-by-step process for creating a transdisciplinary team, verbal and nonverbal skills necessary for successful communicative interaction, and behaviors that serve as barriers to…

A study examined the changes in team membership for 18 students with deaf-blindness from 1994-95 to 1997-98. Findings highlight the many people who are involved in each student's education and the high level of turnover among professional staff. Implications for managing changes in team membership are discussed. (Author/CR)

A survey of 60 speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in schools for children with deafness was conducted. Results point favorably to the services provided in terms of SLPs' proficiency in sign language, smaller caseloads, time spent in direct services, and practices that focus on written languages, sign language, and functional communication.…

This article explores factors that facilitate moving from the service-provider role to becoming part of a family's constellation of helpers. Elements of empowerment are juxtaposed with the following metaphors for practice: building a definition of disability, following the parent's lead, creating a community of helpers, and expanding perspectives.…

A survey of 46 agencies providing residential support to persons with disabilities examined their capacity to support persons with disabilities who present challenging behaviors. Two independent variables (organizational stability and administrative leadership) and four dependent variables (staff structures, staff training, measurement systems,…

One school district's experience in moving to a more elaborate, expansive, and integrative gifted education program illustrates the new roles and responsibilities of gifted education specialists. These include providing instructional support for classroom teachers, direct educational services, coordination of out-of-school resources and programs,…

This article offers guidelines and suggestions related to the educational interpreter's relationship and interactions with the student with hearing impairment, teachers, the student's peers and parents, supportive service personnel, and administrators. The interpreter must fulfill many roles to aid in the inclusion of students with hearing…

Examines traditional staff management styles, and discusses the need for a new approach to school leadership, such as a weblike, interconnected organizational structure in which all parties, leaders and staff alike, work in collaboration to achieve the common good. Outlines the development and components of such a structure. (TJQ)

A research and intervention project to enhance cultural competence (CC) within nursing home staff is described, with particular emphasis on the qualitative findings generated during baseline assessments of 10 participating facilities. These findings, developed from an analysis of transcripts of 56 focus groups, suggest the importance of five CC…

University academic staff do complex work in an increasingly demanding environment. Traditionally, universities have defined the role of academic staff according to the three domains of teaching, research, and service, with primary emphasis placed upon the teaching and research aspects and secondary emphasis upon service or administration. Recent…

For many administrators, the task of providing meaningful and timely inservice training for classroom and school safety is difficult. Staff development time is a scarce commodity in today's education environment; therefore, most inservice activities for faculty members center on academic issues. But during an emergency or crisis, a lack of…