Six trends affecting dental hygiene practice are discussed: demographic changes; disease pattern changes; higher societal expectations; financing and delivery system changes; technological advancement; and regulatory and legislative trends. It is argued that, though the trends reflect positively on dental hygiene, practitioners need to increase…

This commentary discusses issues from EC 231 901 on services for mentally retarded individuals: emphasis on structural features of the environment rather than its functional dynamics; developmental progress and personal well-being of the individual superseding ideological and civil liberties missions; and the multifaceted role of scientists as…

The efforts of a speech-language pathologist to foster a collaborative consultation service delivery approach with classroom teachers are described. The approach involved an in-service session for teachers, teachers providing the therapist with classroom curricula and materials, and the therapist observing speech-language-impaired students in the…

A survey of 518 service providers found high levels of knowledge and adherence to values of inclusion regarding the need to provide opportunities for engaging consumers with disabilities in community daily activities and rights for services. Employees had less knowledge of activities intended to provide opportunities to make choices. (Author/CR)

Describes emerging approaches to delivery of psychological services to special-needs students including: (1) indirect delivery via consultation; (2) instructional strategies based on new views of learning and cognition; (3) increased emphasis on cooperative arrangements in classrooms; (4) use of authentic assessment procedures; and (5) peer…

This article describes six service features honoring diversity in early childhood special education (ECSE) programs as identified and piloted in the 3-year federally funded demonstration program, CROSSROADS. CROSSROADS provided technical assistance to ECSE programs with children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Examples…

Like county governments, hospitals, and municipalities, superintendents must develop policies and protocols for requesting proposals, administering contracts, and ensuring desired results of private-sector services. Administrators should consider performance criteria, legal issues, cost and efficiency analysis, contractor evaluation criteria, and…

Describes a system partnership program model in which schools, social services agencies, and criminal justice agencies, collaborate to serve high-risk young adolescents. The model features a services integration strategy that promotes joint planning and which results in a closely coordinated response by schools, social services, and…

A range of qualitative and quantitative methods were used to create case studies and summaries of 16 inclusive programs in 4 regional U.S. locations. The individualized service model that programs followed were itinerant-direct service, itinerant-collaborative consultative, team teaching, early childhood, early childhood special education, and…

This introductory article discusses factors that have led to changes in speech-language pathology practices, including a better and broader understanding of the human communication process, revised federal guidelines and regulations for special education and related services, and a strong desire to encourage scientific pursuit through…

Focus groups of family members of children with disabilities discussed augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) practices within a Mexican American community. Among seven perspectives identified are: (1) children understand nonverbal communication in the home; (2) aided techniques are useful outside of the home; (3) families have great…

This article summarizes what is known about: (1) Vietnamese history and immigration patterns; (2) probable demographics of consumers within the Vietnamese American community who would need speech-language services; (3) the culture and structure of the Vietnamese-American family; and (4) traditional Vietnamese medical practices. Six principles for…

The utility of cost-benefit analysis in program evaluation is illustrated using hypothetical examples of the consequences of natural environments service provision. Areas for further research related to cost and benefit implications are presented. Early intervention programs can use the cost-benefit framework to evaluate the social impact of…

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act includes school health services among possible related services. A review of relevant documents and court decisions from the past 10 years provides insight into congressional intent, federal regulations, and local implementation of service delivery related to children with extensive health care…

This commentary on "The Effects of Family-Centered Service Coordination: A Social Validity Study" (Romer), discusses findings that the three service coordinators did not change their behavior to be more family-centered after one workshop and that it took follow-up work to get their behaviors to a minimal level of performance. (CR)