The author discusses often invisible student differences that must be overcome within the vocational agriculture curriculum. These differences may be cognitive, physical, or social/emotional. He describes some techniques that teachers can use to help students compensate for their differences. (CH)

The authors warn against placing too heavy a burden of responsibility on building-level administrators for service delivery approaches tailored to the individual needs of all students. Given the goal of meeting individual needs through combining regular and special education resources, there is no reason for maintaining a dual system. (JW)

Compares differences between elderly who use formal home care services and those who do not. Data revealed users as less healthy and less active and as receiving more assistance from both formal and informal sources. Suggests that formal and informal services complement rather than substitute for one another. (NRB)

Outlines a "curricular" approach to learning difficulties against the background of traditional conceptions and practices relating to special needs in British schools, and in light of recent developments in "mainstream" curricula. Examines calls for change in the organization of learning, distinguishes mainstream from special…

Case studies illuminate the psychosocial characteristics of special populations of reentry women, the barriers they face, and their unique needs. (JOW)

Discusses whether special education is capable of responding to government policies designed to address social or cultural issues. Reviews two books which treat this issue from very different perspectives. (GEA)

Students with mild to moderate hearing losses have different communication needs from their normal-hearing peers, but if those needs are met the children can thrive in a mainstream setting. A certified teacher of hearing impaired students can provide professional advice by observing the mainstream classroom and consulting with the teacher. (VW)

Reviews a report prepared by the Senate Select Committee on Aging and the American Association of Retired Persons and presents an alternative interpretation, suggesting that high rates of mental health problems in old age are accompanied by an unmet need for services. Presents problems in governmental policy as contributing to service…

The author defines mainstreaming and discusses how business education teachers and special needs instructors can work as a team on instructional and materials adaptation to meet the special needs of students. (CH)

Compared physically disabled and able-bodied college students on Erickson's epigenetic stages of life-span development, and Maslow's motivational needs hierarchy of personality development. The groups were more similar than dissimilar in ego development and needs level. College students with disabilities may be a select population because of their…

Presents a model based on person-environment fit that is designed to increase retention of students with unique educational needs in postsecondary vocational education programs. The specific details that surround the development of this model are examined and are related to the nature and extent of the problem. (CT)

Assessed the health and well-being of 494 elderly residents in five federally assisted housing projects several years after a study of a similar sample of original occupants. Decline in functioning was more notable in psychological than in health domains. Declines were accommodated by developing different clusters of services delivered by…

Conducted a two-part test of Maslow's theory of human motivation and explored the relationships between need deficiencies and (1) need importance and (2) life satisfaction in female college graduates (N=474). Results support Maslow's model regarding need deficiencies and their relationship to life satisfaction. (LLL)

Investigated student teacher interactions during video tapes of free play periods with disabled and normal preschoolers enrolled in two preschool programs. Findings suggest that teacher education programs could help adults to overcome stereotypic actions toward special needs children. (Author/DST)

Concluded that the children in this study (ages 10-14) played video games in arcades for some of the same reasons they watched television: (1) escape; (2) a sense of personal involvement in the action; and (3) a source of or substitute for companionship. (PD)