This article addresses the parent's role in the life of the infant and young child with motor impairments, in the context of the conductive education approach. Critically important are recognizing and responding to the infant's efforts at communication, enlivening the child's zone of proximal development through games and music, and seeing the…

A pilot study evaluating the use of conductive education for children and adults with cerebral palsy and other motor impairments in Germany concluded that a straightforward transfer of the Hungarian system into German society is not desirable but that conductive education should be adapted to each country's rehabilitation system. The modification…

This paper evaluates two research projects concerned with conductive education for children with cerebral palsy, one in Germany and the other in the United Kingdom. Issues of generalizability and drawing causal conclusions are raised. The paper finds that neither the most sanguine expectations nor the worst misgivings about conductive education…

This article addresses four comparative issues in the development of conductive education programs for children with disabilities in the United Kingdom: (1) the cultural context; (2) the knowledge base of conductive education available in English; (3) the different outlooks of therapy and education; and (4) curriculum issues. (DB)

A survey of 89 United Kingdom health service professionals (pediatricians, physiotherapists, speech and occupational therapists) found widely varying levels of knowledge and understanding of the system of conductive education. A generally positive but cautious acknowledgement of the method's benefits for selected children was also found. The role…

This study examined the application of the ecological approach and community education to support the participation of 27 male students at a Finnish reform school in various leisure time activities and facilities. The students expressed needs to join in the production system, cultural system, contact system, and decision-making system of society.…

This study compared procedures in Scotland and Ontario (Canada) for planning for the transition to adulthood of young people with physical disabilities. In Scotland such planning is mandated, while in Canada such procedures are dependent on local initiatives. In both instances, transition was seen to be a prolonged phase. Case studies illustrate…

Elementary students (n=150) with learning disabilities were interviewed regarding their preferences for special education service delivery. Students (who were all currently receiving pull-out services) preferred receiving extra help in the special education class from the special education teacher. Students' preferences were not related to age,…

A survey of 163 students with disabilities at the University of Oslo (Norway) found that respondents expressed unmet needs, such as a lack of proximity in services and adjustments offered, lack of information about services to which they were entitled, difficult routines in relation to services and examinations, and problems specific to each…

Analysis of scores of 313 students at the United Arab Emirates University on the College Students' Attitude Scale towards the Handicapped found significantly more positive attitudes by females versus males, single versus married students, residents versus nonresidents, families with children having disabilities, students having previous contact…

Interviews with 16 teachers and parents of 9 children with motor disabilities in special instruction groups at Swedish schools suggested that parents, although generally reporting satisfaction with their children's education, had very little influence on contents and methods of their children's school activities. Intervention goals dominated over…

This paper describes the ongoing action research program at a residential school for students with emotional and behavior disorders in England. Structured "cooperative play" is used to improve language and behavior skills of students, train adults, and provide a research setting in which changes can be observed, recorded, and implemented.…

This paper describes the Reading Recovery program implemented at a special needs school in Kiel, Germany. The program is intended to offer primary-grade pupils a second chance to obtain reading and writing skills. The highly structured reading program involves isolation of difficulties, work on word structure, learning consonant-vowel combinations…

This article describes an ecocultural approach to assessing families of young children with developmental disabilities, drawing heavily on information about families' daily routines and accommodations. The role of place and context in assessment is discussed, and case material from two current projects is provided to illustrate the assessment and…

Effects of videotaped self-modeling on acquisition, maintenance, and generalization of the contractible copula "is" with preschool children with delayed language were assessed. All three participating students made and maintained clear gains in acquiring the target behavior and applying it in normal conversational usage. (Author/PB)