This paper examines the ways in which individuals have been prepared for work in special education by focusing on the Boston, Massachusetts, public schools from 1870 through the 1920's. During this period, selected teachers and teacher candidates were recruited and prepared for specific assignments as instructors of children with disabilities.…

This book discusses career planning strategies for students with special needs. It addresses the 13 competencies identified by the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee (NOICC) as basic to effective performance by career development practitioners: career development theory, decision-making skills, consultation skills,…

To understand the low employment outcomes for young people with mild disabilities, this study assessed the level of knowledge of Kansas teachers (N=92) of students with mild disabilities regarding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), transition models, and components of transition programs. Major findings included the following:…

There are many Federal laws against discrimination, passed to protect people who are denied their rights because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability. This publication is a guide to the initial stages of filing a discrimination complaint. Although it does not cover all the steps after a complaint is filed, it helps…

This annual report of the National Council on Disability (NCD) describes major activities and accomplishments during fiscal year 1996 in its role of advising the President and Congress on issues concerning people with disabilities. The NCD conducted the first-ever National Summit on Disability Policy which gathered 300 people to develop more than…

Inclusive education reflects the changing culture of contemporary schools with emphasis on active learning, authentic assessment practices, applied curriculum, multi-level instructional approaches, and increased attention to diverse student needs and individualization. This guide is intended to help teachers implement inclusive educational…

This pamphlet examines free appropriate public education (FAPE) requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, focusing on four concerns: (1) eligibility for a free appropriate public education; (2) how an "appropriate education" is defined; (3) how Section 504 provisions relate to FAPE provisions in the Individuals with…

This manual offers practical guidelines validated by research for applying instructional strategies to adults with mental retardation who are learning community-based tasks. It provides a sequenced strategy for: (1) selecting person-centered instructional goals; (2) developing quality task analyses of community-based, chained tasks; (3) selecting…

Four case studies examined the effects of using taped books to teach reading to at-risk elementary school students in rural West Virginia. The study involved two kindergarten students who were identified as at risk for developing reading difficulties and two first-grade students who had been classified with a learning disability. The intervention,…

Undergraduate students at Northern Arizona University interviewed and surveyed 20 staff members at Kayenta Unified School District (KUSD) on the Navajo Reservation and 14 parents of exceptional Navajo children enrolled in KUSD. Both groups were asked to identify challenges affecting the working relationship between parents and school on a rural…

This book is intended as a practical guide for parents and teachers in managing children or students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Specific strategies and techniques are presented that will facilitate learning for individuals with ADHD in both the home and school environment. Chapters include: "ADHD at Home and in the…

This final report focused on research questions associated with reducing the segregation of students with learning disabilities (LD) in Virginia. A survey of special education supervisors, general education supervisors, building principals, general elementary and secondary education teachers, LD teachers, students with LD, and parents was…

A collaborative training initiative for promoting best practices in early intervention was evaluated as part of a statewide outreach grant funded by the Early Education Program for Children with Disabilities, U.S. Department of Education and conducted by the Maine Bureau of Children with Special Needs. Project Reach ME developed and conducted…

This Leader's Guide is part of a training package on classroom management strategies which attempts: (1) to provide an alternative to presently available texts and training programs that could be used by school personnel without expertise; (2) to provide comprehensive training for school personnel to meet the needs of a diverse student population…

This study analyzed data on general health and functional status of Mexican-American and Puerto Rican children in the United States. Data came from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a database that contains parental reports of neonatal characteristics, chronic-developmental conditions, and functional limitations, and physician…