Presents facts, literature, and organization sources on the sexual functioning of spinal-cord-injured persons. Suggests using this information in counseling situations. Urges counselors to help their clients reach sexual maturity by speaking frankly about sexuality and expressing affection, and by accepting their sexual behavior as normal. (JAC)

Describes the use of computers in special education to provide new learning opportunities and better teaching strategies for handicapped students. Indicates that computers can teach cursive writing, test the effectiveness of a teaching method, and simulate systems such as tune-composing and sentence generating. (DC)

Supports the proposition that orthopedically handicapped children are deficient in communication skills development. Increased contact with peers, through integrated classrooms, overcomes this deficiency to a certain degree. None of the children--handicapped or not, in integrated or in segregated classes--seem able to adapt their communication…

Characteristics of the target population, services, and potential source of helpers are determining factors in the cost effectiveness of home health services. Welfare of patients in the experimental group was improved, and lower probability of residential care helped keep costs down. (JAC)

Discusses the value of using community jobs in the career education of handicapped students, and presents a model for developing an effective program. When preceded by appropriate classroom activities, the community job reinforces social skills training and career awareness. (JAC)

Shows how one school district uses a series of four three-day workshops to give students a feeling for what it is like to be disabled and an awareness of the frustrations and barriers that confront mainstreamed students. (RL)

Describes rehabilitation implications associated with psychosocial factors, patient reaction, and family adjustment to coronary heart disease. Patient education and counseling must stress specific long-term care and follow-up and deal with family anxiety and depression. The rehabilitation counselor can help patients incorporate medical…

Counselors must deal with loss in their own lives before helping provide strategies for students and clients. In addition to coping with death, clients may grieve over the loss of home, job, personal relationships, and body appendages. Counselors must be ready to offer services, alternatives, and understanding. (JAC)

Four programs for exceptional children (including physically disabled, minority, delinquent) are described in the column. Contact names and addresses for each program are provided. (Author/PHR)

The National Center for Law and the Handicapped, Inc. assists handicapped persons to establish and maintain their rights under federal and state laws. The Center uses litigation, legislative reform, research, and public education to achieve equal opportunity for disabled persons. It provides publications and a resource library to the public.…

The majority of families with developmentally disabled children reported that the physical demands this handicap imposed on them were the most troublesome. The kinds of services they requested were those that would educate the handicapped person to be more independent. (Author)

Highlights scenarios showing the importance of school districts making clear distinctions between comprehensive and coherent practices in building inclusive schools, rather than simply adding students with disabilities without knowing how the organization of schooling needs to change. Presents recommendations for building successful inclusive…

This study examined perceptions of 15 British parents whose children with physical disabilities attended a three-week conducive education program focused on functional development, pedagogy, and language and social development. A majority of parents reported progress in walking, motivation, and grasp. Progress was least reported in sleeping,…

This study examined the impact on 44 families of children who had suffered severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) within the past month. It found that families experienced significantly more injury-related stress and higher levels of psychological symptoms than 52 families of children with moderate TBI and 69 families of children with orthopedic…

Describes the design and evaluation of a desktop virtual reality program that was developed to teach children about the accessibility and attitudinal barriers encountered by their peers with mobility impairments. Investigated attitudes, grade levels, familiarity with individuals with a disability, and gender. (Author/LRW)