The United Cerebral Palsy Open Education Project was developed to meet the individual educational goals of multiply handicapped children (ages six months to 13 years). (PHR)

Analysis of records of 194 students with severe disabilities (105 extended school year [ESY] and 89 students ineligible for ESY) found that ESY students were younger and had more medically diagnosed health impairments. Provided are a literature review and an eligibility checklist for use in making ESY decisions more explicit. (JDD)

Project FIT (Full Inclusion through Technology) provides notebook computers for children with severe disabilities. The computers offer many input and output options. Assessing the students' equipment needs is a complex process, requiring determination of communication goals and baseline abilities, and consideration of equipment features such as…

This study evaluated a training sequence designed to increase an interdisciplinary school team's response sensitivity and consistency toward the perceived communication of children with profound mental disabilities. After the training, all four participants recognized more child behaviors as communicative. However, participants' response…

This article explores factors underpinning the teaching of science to pupils with moderate and severe learning difficulties, as prescribed by England's National Curriculum. The article examines teachers' beliefs about the nature of learning difficulties and their role in enabling pupils to learn, teachers' beliefs about science and their teaching…

Evaluation of a leisure skill instruction program with five high school age students with severe disabilities found generalization of trained skills in activities with nondisabled peers. Additionally, attitude scores of high school peers showed a significant improvement following four months of interaction with a disabled student. (DB)

This article describes a conceptual model of the literacy learning process in individuals with severe congenital speech and motor impairments. The literature is reviewed on the relationship between spoken and written language development in both the nondisabled population and those with disabilities. Practical applications for instruction are…

Peer-delivered self-instructional training was evaluated with three adolescent students with moderate to severe disabilities and their two peer teachers (with mild mental retardation). Two students learned the job skill and were able to generalize it. The third student required picture cues and training by a nonpeer trainer. (Author/DB)

The paper addresses placement of students with severe disabilities in regular or special classes within home schools, describes Vermont's Homecoming Model Project, and identifies best educational practices. The roles of state-level support and school leadership are stressed. Instructional strategies including data-based methods, partner learning…

A case study illustrates comprehensive systems-change integration strategies employed by the Iowa Department of Education over the past six years and their results. A proactive leadership role is recommended to state education agencies in promoting integration. Implications for other states are discussed. (Author/PB)

This study found that siblings (n=19) of severely autistic children, siblings of children with Down's syndrome, and siblings of normal children did not differ on measures of perceived self-competence or parents' report of social competence. Siblings of autistic children had more internalizing and externalizing behavior problems than siblings of…

Discusses the application of Britain's National Literacy Strategy for pupils with special educational needs, especially the additional guidance recently published which suggests ways of including these students in the "literacy hour" or conducting "parallel" groups. Continuing questions raised by teachers of students with…

Provides insight into system-level changes needed to support inclusive preschool activities. Recognizes successful outcomes of inclusive programs as highly dependent on attitudes of parents and teachers. Describes a six-step process in developing successful inclusive programs in a rural Iowa community. Stresses the need for everyone affected to…

Teachers and parents rated the developmental status of 225 preschool children with and without disabilities on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale. The study found a significant correlation between teacher and parent ratings for children with severe disabilities but not for children with mild/moderate or no disabilities. (DB)

The experiences of three students (elementary, middle school, and high-school students) with significant disabilities who had been members of an urban general education classrooms for at least 3 years are described. Students were provided with accommodations and modifications, however, there was a lack of connection between Individualized…