This paper reviews the impact on the instructional process of having paraprofessionals and adult volunteers, particularly parents and senior citizens, in the special education classroom. It discusses the duties they perform in the classroom and the reasons for low parental participation. The review of the literature suggests the following…

This paper describes the development and use of language training procedures, referred to as cues-pause-point procedures, that rely on behavioral principles and simple and natural teaching procedures and that are exhibited in many normal parent-child or teacher-student verbal interactions. The procedures have been effective in teaching severely…

This issue of the newsletter focuses on early intervention for handicapped preschool children. The lead article, entitled "Promoting Independent Work Skills in Handicapped Preschool Children," highlights findings of a project designed to identify critical skills needed for independent functioning in mainstream preschool and kindergarten…

This paper reviews instructional strategies for dealing with learning-disabled preschool children in mainstreamed classrooms. It focuses on the teacher's role in developing the child's abilities in the areas of social skills, choices and anxiety, sequencing and routine, transition periods, and motor skills. To enhance social skills, peer…

This paper explores Canadian educational services offered to severely and profoundly handicapped children and comments on their cautious welcoming into the regular education system. School administrators must become familiar with the needs of severely handicapped students, and must become much more involved in the planning, support, and…

Migrant students--especially those requiring special education--are at a disadvantage in our nation's tradition-based schools. Highly mobile migrant students change schools frequently enough to be out of step with normal school calendars, causing both handicapped and gifted students to be underidentified as candidates for special programs. Migrant…

This report reviews federal laws and programs affecting persons with disabilities and assesses the extent to which they: provide incentives or disincentives to the establishment of community-based services for handicapped individuals; promote the full integration of such individuals in the community, in schools, and in the workplace; and…

Ten topic papers examine federal laws and programs affecting persons with disabilities and make recommendations for improved use of federal money. The papers cover: (1) equal opportunity laws, examining the status of disability-related equal opportunity laws and identifying gaps in coverage, shortcomings and inconsistencies in interpretation and…

A project was developed for the purpose of monitoring the special education program of the Queensland, Australia, Department of Education. This program offered educational support for very young handicapped children and their families. The monitoring team had a formative role in providing the services of consultants to advise teachers in certain…

The purpose of this document is to provide reasonable, systematic standards for evaluation of instructional materials upon which evaluators may base their judgments, so that the results of the evaluation process will be as nearly consistent and therefore, as equitable, as possible. The guidelines are based on the social content requirements of the…

The handbook is intended for elementary and secondary school administrators and teachers providing programs for handicapped students in the province of Alberta, Canada. Functions of administrators include the establishment, development, and/or implementation of goals, support services, and evaluation procedures. The parents' role in assessment,…

This report expands an earlier study of the impact of the Targeted Jobs Tax Credit (TJTC) upon program participants. It explains how TJTC has been used in three major urban areas with large disadvantaged populations: Baltimore, Kansas City, and St. Louis. After a summary of the history of TJTC and of the findings of other studies of wage subsidies…

This annotated bibliography describes materials available for computer-assisted instruction in career education. The materials are suitable for use by regular, disadvantaged, and handicapped students and by students whose facility in English is limited. These materials may be used for developing tests, testing, reviewing, and vocabulary. The…

This introduction to the Marfan syndrome, a heritable disorder of connective tissue primarily affecting the bones and ligaments, eyes, cardiovascular system, and lungs, is intended for a general audience. The question-and-answer format was chosen by individuals with the syndrome to reflect their major questions and concerns. It incorporates the…

This manual provides a basic understanding of cultural differences that teachers are likely to encounter among exceptional children in their classrooms. The manual aims to create an atmosphere where children respect individual differences in themselves and in others. Several cultures are introduced, including Arabic Lebanese, Hispanic, Native…