The Achieving Membership Program in Forest Lake (Minnesota) attempted to develop, document, and evaluate district level, building level, and child team level strategies to achieve full inclusion in regular schools for elementary-aged students with severe disabilities. The 3-year program had three main components: (1) establishing model…

This study examined 95 secondary students' perceptions of teacher adaptations to meet the special learning needs of students in general education classrooms. All students felt they needed further assistance to learn from textbooks and would benefit from using learning strategies. Students also identified grouping preferences and types of…

This study investigated the ethics and effectiveness of a community service project with disabled citizens designed to foster college students' social responsibility. Community service raised student awareness of the need for inclusion of disabled citizens in community leisure programs and for genuine respect. Results also raised issues of…

A battery of three measures for assessing the community-based social behavior of adolescents and young adults with emotional and behavioral disorders is described. The measures, in male and female forms, are "Test of Community-Based Social Skill Knowledge,""Scale of Community-Based Social Skill Performance," and "Behaviors That Are Undesirable for…

Survey of 40 state directors of special education identified skills and expertise necessary for personnel in special education transition programs. Tables list required and desired teacher competencies. Recommends that teacher preparation programs include a range of skills and information much broader than current traditional special education…

Background: Concerns have been raised about the quality of medical care available for people with intellectual disabilities in community-based services. The aims of this study were to evaluate a model of medical care developed during a programme of deinstitutionalization, based on a specialist physician supporting general practitioners (GPs).…

This qualitative research study aimed to examine the nature of systems change and to identify practices and strategies that states, specifically New Hampshire, use to promote community integration and deinstitutionalization of people with developmental disabilities. The study describes the New Hampshire system, including state practices,…

Designed as a special continuing education program for rehabilitation professionals, this document is divided into five lessons. Lesson 1, "Technology Assessment: Determining the Needs" (Ricardo G. Cerna), includes discussion on technology assessment and determining the needs of the clients as well as different types of assistive…

This instrument was developed to assist individuals or teams to review best practice indicators regarding the development of inclusive school communities and to establish priority targets for improvement. The instrument covers three areas: (1) school community issues, (2) team issues, and (3) classroom issues. For each area, there is a review…

This 3-year project attempted to: (1) provide direct support to students with severe disabilities in accessing recreation opportunities; (2) develop and present inservice training on integrated leisure opportunities in New England; and (3) disseminate information on ways to integrate school and community recreation activities. The project was…

As part of a larger project which attempted to integrate students with severe disabilities into regular recreational and leisure activities, this study used a peer interest survey to identify popular recreation activities (and thus appropriate possibilities for the target population) across a variety of age groups. The survey was completed by 619…

This article reviews reasons behind the full inclusion movement, concerns that have been raised about full inclusion, and elements necessary to implement successful inclusion programs. The efforts of a southwestern elementary school staff to implement inclusive education for students from culturally/linguistically diverse backgrounds and students…

Implications of an Australian national study on services for older people with intellectual disability include the importance of individual needs in planning recreation and leisure activities, planning future residential placements, and considering medical and health needs as they age. Choice and involvement in decision making for this population…

Examined a teacher-created inclusive environment for elementary students and its endurance in the midst of administrative change, budget cuts, a teachers' strike, and class size reduction. Found that the inclusive environment sustained when teachers shared the vision, resources were available, training was provided, and a culture of inclusion was…

Suggestions for facilitating inclusion of people with mixed abilities in outdoor adventure programs focus on creating an atmosphere of trust, cooperation, and mutual respect through open lines of communication, patterns of inclusive decision making, valuing of efforts and nonphysical accomplishments, emphasis on group challenges and activities,…