This paper examines the problems and barriers that individuals with severe disabilities often encounter in four areas of their lives: (1) dealing with medical professionals, (2) working with the public education system, (3) receiving rehabilitation services, and (4) socializing with others. The roles of the family, the individual with the…

This paper discusses how the classroom participation and communication of language minority students with severe disabilities can be facilitated through the use of many methods based on principles of English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) instruction. The specific method described include: (1) total physical response, (2) the natural approach, (3)…

The Regular Class Participation System (RCPS) project attempted to develop, implement, and validate a system for placing and maintaining students with severe disabilities in general education classrooms, with a particular emphasis on achieving both social and learning outcomes for students. A teacher-based planning strategy was developed and…

This report, one of series of reports describing innovative practices in integrating people with disabilities into community life, presents findings and recommendations of a review of the "Supported Housing Demonstration Project", which provides supportive community living services to approximately 32 people with severe physical…

A collaboration between general and special education can help rural school districts improve services to severely disabled students. This paper presents a conceptual model for rural school administrators to define current practices in their districts and to develop alternatives for educating students with severe disabilities within a rural…

The survey was designed to describe and assess the types of services that Indiana agencies provide to learners with severe handicaps. The survey consisted of a section on general descriptive information and sections on daycare and transition services. Sixty-two surveys were distributed to service agencies, and 39 were returned, representing 97…

This directory describes several early childhood projects sponsored by the U.S. Ofice of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), including project grants administered by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and project grants in three categories administered by the Office of Special Education Programs:…

The monograph presents preliminary results from 27 states that received systems change model demonstration funds from the U.S. Rehabilitation Services Administration in 1986 and 1987. These funds were targeted to modify existing adult day programs for persons with severe disabilities and provide supported employment programs as alternative…

This study examined the effectiveness of a 9-month highly structured program of psychomotor development with 174 severely handicapped students ranging in age from 2 to 20 years. Curriculum based measures (CBM) of exemplary performance objectives were developed. Teaching was individualized by a teaching research model of instruction in both public…

The study examined how 620 children, identified as handicapped while in preschool or kindergarten, had progressed 3 to 9 years later. The study addressed questions of effectiveness of identification procedures, outcomes of early intervention, handicapping condition and placement level, and educational history. Among results were: Identification…

The effects of deinstitutionalization on 110 severely to profoundly mentally retarded and 68 moderately to severely retarded children drawn from Laconia State School in New Hampshire were examined. Study objectives were to determine: (1) educational and residential consequences of deinstitutionalization; (2) the stability of community placements;…

Teacher and paraprofessional ratings of the support received from the New York City Board of Education's Division of Special Education's Summer 1987 Federal Emergency Immigrant Assistance Program exceeded the program objectives. The Federal Emergency Immigrant Assistance Program provided instructional support to teachers of 280 eligible immigrant…

The paper presents an organizational framework to guide the design and implementation of integrated services for preschool children with severe behavior disorders, particularly those programs where cooperative agreements are formed between separate service agencies. A project that mainstreams preschool children with severe behavior disorders into…

The study examined the effectiveness of music instruction on basic music skill acquisition and generalization to free time recreational pursuits of three groups (preschool, elementary, and secondary) of moderately and severely handicapped students. Instruction was provided to handicapped students with mixed etiologies (mentally retarded,…

Ethical decisions are involved in life and death decisions for severely handicapped infants. Although it has become common practice for physicians not to treat severely handicapped infants, the ethical considerations involved in euthanasia are complex. A review of the literature reveals that concerns center around the quality of life of the…