This article discusses general issues in the provision of early intervention as well as nutrition services in rural areas and presents a case study to illustrate these issues. Barriers identified include transportation, long-distance travel, lack of specialized personnel, and poverty. Recommendations to overcome barriers are highlighted. (JDD)

Seven challenges in quality assurance for services for people with mental retardation include defining quality, identifying the customer, making choices real, realizing that good intentions are not enough, not applying innovations too hastily or on too large a scale, assuring quality of leadership and staff, and rediscovering common sense. (DB)

Reviews the status of academic advising and considers barriers to effective advising. Suggests that strategies for improving advising systems must take into account specific institutional factors that act as barriers to effective advising and must include long-term commitment to enhancement efforts. (LLL)

This study interviewed 58 parents of preschool-aged disabled children about their perceptions of infant and family services proposed under Public Law 99-457. Parents expressed desires for knowledge about their child and available services, and stressed the importance of professionals empowering families to make their own decisions. (Author/PB)

The efforts of Sight Savers, a service program of the Royal Commonwealth for the Blind, to stem the outward flow of hard currency from developing countries are described. Sight Savers furthers program sustainability by emphasizing local manpower development, selecting equipment that requires less and cheaper maintenance, and using local currency…

The emerging approach to talent development differs from traditional gifted education in several ways. Instead of stressing acceleration or enrichment, the Levels of Service model blends many services and activities with other school activities to respond to students' individual talents, strengths, and sustained interests. Teachers do not compete…

Makes recommendations for providing better services to people with developmental disabilities, including clarifying the support that people with developmental disabilities need and providing that support; making a fundamental shift toward community based programs; eliminating rigid and complex rules; creating the future; and making a commitment to…

Presents an exclusive interview with Karl Dennis, one of the pioneers of the wraparound approach to providing youth and family services, who shares his insights on how this system of unconditional care can help build resilient families and communities. (Author/GCP)

Professional expertise and authority are increasingly eroded by the demands of the institutional delivery system in which they practice. Professional services are now typically delivered by expert systems not individuals. Continuing educators must reframe their understanding of context in order to address the new conditions of practice. (SK)

Discusses issues related to open and distance-learning (ODL) in developing countries, using the virtual campus initiative of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (India) as an example and model of on-line program delivery and on-line, for-profit telelearning centers. Suggests strategies to enable open and distance-learning institutions to…

Survey responses from 138 beginning Iowa farmers revealed a preference for experiential learning, problem solving, and critical thinking. They felt strongly that lifelong learning and continuing education are important. They preferred onsite instruction, single meetings on specific topics, and unbiased information from public institutions.…

Notes preschoolers' parallel play as analogous to the complexity of American early childhood service delivery. Describes four relatively independent service systems for typically developing children and two for children with special needs. Suggests that this "parallel" approach results in complicated and overlapping services, and urges…

The structure of postsecondary education has been reconceptualized in terms of distance education which can help two-year institutions serve more students without increasing staff levels. The focused preparation required for distance teaching may improve overall teaching quality. (SK)

Marcel is a prototype electronic document delivery system based on multipurpose Internet mail extensions (MIME) that was designed and tested by the University of Northern Colorado. This article discusses program implementation and testing, hardware and software requirements and availability, and the program's future. (PEN)

Comparison of CD-ROM and videodisk concludes that CDs have advantages of capacity, convenience, wider application, and use in integrated learning systems; they will not be supplanted by the Internet. Warns educators to get involved with technology as it decentralizes institutions of learning. (SK)