The University of South Florida's Department of Special Education has restructured all aspects of its teacher education program in order to respond to educational reforms in institutions of higher education and reforms relative to services integration. Emphasis is on coordination with the local community on specific programs including…

This article considers two policy initiatives that address the dilemma of increasing special education teacher numbers and improving quality: the No Child Left Behind law and the plan laid out in the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future policy blueprint. It then discusses teacher attrition and retainment strategies. (Contains…

Traces the conceptual origins of adaptive behavior of handicapped people, from state residential institutions to its role in the complex process of community integration. Measurement instruments are reviewed. Measurement, conceptual, and methodological issues are discussed. (Author/BJV)

Examines recent legal and programmatic changes in the education of the handicapped in Massachusetts. Highlights State standards in the areas of program delivery, identification and placement, and the use of individual educational plans. Raises issues of validation and possible inequity. (FMW)

An explanation of Project EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information), dedicated to helping higher education develop computer support services for people with disabilities, includes description of project efforts, statistics on disabilities, notes on personal cases, and information on applications of adaptive computer technology. (MSE)

This study explored the experiences of faculty and staff at a Minnesota technical college involved in a statewide initiative to develop innovative models for providing equal opportunities to students with disabilities. The findings suggest meaningful change tended to occur when those involved saw themselves as authors of change rather than its…

Charts and graphs present data on changes in fiscal 1996 funding for the Department of Education and other federal agencies, and tables report dollar amounts of fiscal 1995 actual spending, fiscal 1996 estimated expenses, and fiscal 1996 requested aid for student assistance, graduate support, institutional assistance, research, and other purposes.…

This article identifies challenges to incorporating occupational, physical, and speech-language therapy into early childhood programs under Parts B and H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Challenges include transforming traditional medical model services, meeting the need for qualified personnel, and adequately preparing…

Outlines the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 in regard to libraries. Discusses the responsibilities libraries have in hiring disabled persons and providing services, accommodations, and telecommunications, and describes ADA compliance activities in Florida. (96 references/notes) (EA)

Recent changes in New Zealand educational administration are empowering parents to seek integration into mainstream classrooms for their children with disabilities. These changes include an emerging economic model of schools, the establishment of the right of all children to education in state schools, and recognition of the rights of Maori…

This study examined 23 classroom teachers' perceptions of collaborative training meetings they engaged in with remedial reading or resource room teachers. Teachers engaged in "pull-in" teaching (in which specialists taught in general classrooms) reported more frequent collaborative meetings and greater learning of specific techniques…

Documents the systematic extermination of Jews, Gypsies, Blacks, and the handicapped by the Nazis between 1933 and 1945. Notes eugenic and racial measures such as forced sterilization of mulatto and handicapped children were used. Discusses Nazi policies of deportations and mass murder. Identifies need for research to explain the racial context of…

An interagency team approach to planning and implementing successful school-to-work programs for students with disabilities is recommended. Roles of special educators, vocational rehabilitators, vocational educators, parents, and students are identified. Specific ways to counter such local obstacles as lack of transportation, lack of funding, and…

The Americans with Disabilities Act affects administration of college student financial aid in areas such as need analysis, determination of satisfactory academic progress, enrollment status, and loan cancellation. Compliance requires an understanding of the definitions of disability, reasonable accommodation, academic progress, and enrollment…

This article describes the Conners Rating Scales-Revised, a rating scale designed to identify Canadian and American students ages 3 to 17 years with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The test contains a Teacher Feedback Form, a Parent Feedback Form, and Adolescent Feedback Forms. Its administration, reliability, and validity are discussed.…