This commentary focuses on four common issues of concern that affect special education research in different countries: how philosophies, laws, and ethics influence special education research, how policymaking and research affect each other, how research topics are selected, and who conducts special education research with what methodologies.…

A total of 87 inservice teachers and 99 preservice teachers viewed videotapes depicting inappropriate behavior of an African-American female, an African-American male, a white female, and a white male. The gender of the teacher and the gender of the student had the most influence on teachers' perceptions of behavior. (Contains references.)…

Regular physical educators need to know how to make modifications for students with disabilities in their classes. The paper presents information on modifying instruction, adapting starting and stopping signals, using different teaching styles, varying methodology, altering length of instruction, modifying length of participation, and adapting…

Examines the educational policies and recent legislation concerning special education students in countries belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The OECD consists mostly of Western industrialized nations and Japan. Includes an overview of programs and resources, as well as several tables of statistical…

Presents nine teaching strategies to increase correspondence between visual and auditory modes of presentation. The techniques, focusing on presentation syntax, instructor placement/movement, and methods of eliciting students' input, were originally designed for students with hearing and visual impairments, but have proven to promote clarity for…

Authors discuss several key legal issues involving the testing and licensing of teachers to improve educational quality. Primary focus is on federal constitutional and statutory issues in testing those who belong to different racial/ethnic, gender, age, language, and disability groups. Addresses legal implications of new testing requirements in…

This case study compared behavior of 6 Level 3 students with severe learning difficulties in a school for pupils with severe learning difficulties with that of six similar students in a mainstream primary school. Observations and teacher interview findings indicated site differences in students' social maturity, student-teacher relationships, and…

Details delivery of Individual Education Program objectives to K-3 students with low-incidence disabilities. Presents data on which teachers were present in the classroom and who delivered the teaching opportunities, frequency of IEP instruction, and instructional context of the lesson. Discusses the low level of IEP-related instruction in terms…

In the study reported on here, the authors used computer-based video instruction (CBVI) to teach 3 high school students with moderate or severe intellectual disabilities how to order in fast-food restaurants by using an augmentative, alternative communication device. The study employed a multiple probe design to institute CBVI as the only…

Diversity is increasing within the United States, and higher education will likely play a key role in preparing people to function in this new environment. This study assessed the effectiveness of a semester-long psychology workplace diversity course at changing student levels of ethnocentrism and attitudes regarding gender roles; the disabled;…

Spelling competence in English L2 is not the result of specific teaching and training. Two questions are discussed in this article: How do Dutch learners manage to gain control of this complicated system? And what spelling knowledge is acquired? Because beginning learners lack the necessary prerequisites for a phonological strategy, it is claimed…

In this article, major laws, regulations, court cases, policies and practices related to intelligence testing of African American students in California are reviewed. A California Department of Education (CDE) ban on intelligence testing of African American students for the purpose of determining special education eligibility is in effect and…

Outcomes are reported for youths with serious emotional disturbance receiving customary services from community mental health service providers who receive state mental health funds. Various outcome indicators for the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS) are described, as well as a procedure for categorizing youths into client…

This article provides a brief review of the literature on the legal, social, and racial factors that affect and describe minority confinement in the juvenile justice system. To identify appropriate literature, the authors searched electronic resources through the University of Maryland library research system called Research Port. The findings in…

The authors investigated the status of uncertified (waivered) teachers working in special education classrooms in the state of New Mexico. A survey was developed to gather information about (a) the cultural diversity of teachers and their students, (b) their educational background, (c) the relationship between teacher ethnicity and multicultural…