A project at the University of Kansas has analyzed, evaluated, and developed guidelines for multicultural emphasis in special education teacher education. The project has progressed from analysis of the department curriculum to development of a workshop model (the format of which is included). (CL)

A team approach for planning and evaluating personnel preparation programs within the context of PL 94-142, (Education for All Handicapped Children Act), proceeds through six steps--from needs assessment through plan revision. Formative evaluation data has shown success in three goal areas and in staff satisfaction. (CL)

A review of traditional (such as psychotherapy) and behavioral approaches (such as self-monitoring and reinforcement) to obesity treatment of mentally retarded students led to the conclusion that the behavioral orientation was more successful. Implications for initiating such programs include thorough training, voluntary participation, and parent…

Student teachers (N=113) completed questionnaires about mainstreaming emotionally disturbed (ED) students. Results indicated generally positive attitudes, despite recognition of some behaviors as disturbing. Further, they asserted that their skills were sufficient to deal with the mainstreamed setting. Implications for cognitive, affective, and…

The authors cite methodological and interpretive flaws in K. Kavale's earlier article (ED 150 124) claiming that psycholinguistic training is effective with handicapped students. They suggest that the practical significance of research must be considered as well as the statistical significance. (CL)

Effectiveness of reinforcing an alternative response combined with extinction was demonstrated in two mentally retarded children who exhibited high-rate hand stereoptics. (CL)

Preliminary data indicates that parents involved in home-based relationship-focused intervention for infants with developmental delay showed greater responsiveness to the infant, participated in more frequent reciprocal activities, showed more organized involvement with the child, and tended to note positive changes in the infant's responsiveness…

Analysis of 601 special education teachers' responses to questionnaires about burnout included that teachers at the junior high level were at greatest risk for burnout; that teachers of emotionally disturbed children reported greatest occupational stress; and that support ratings from administrators, fellow teachers, and parents were significantly…

A study involving 233 junior and senior high school students pointed out the advantages of using conceptual level (CL) to identify gifted students (such as ease of administration and congruence with goals of gifted programs). CL was able to accurately differentiate students currently identified as gifted and nongifted. (CL)

To be effective, interagency agreements must overcome a variety of obstacles, including lack of coordination between state and local agencies. A process for overcoming those barriers includes identifying resources to be exchanged and teaching special education or mental health concepts to the other agency(ies). Useful agreements are written…

Eleven preschool children with speech and language deficits spoke approximately twice as often during teacher-directed discussions as in child-directed discussions. Utterances classified as report, label, and mimic were used most often in the teacher-directed settings. (CL)

Criterion-referenced tests in a time-series design were found to be the most feasible methodology for evaluating placement in an early intervention program for mildly retarded, learning disabled, and emotionally disturbed children. Advantages included provision of longitudinal data, while the major disadvantage was administration time. (CL)

Among findings of a study involving families of nine handicapped children (6-11 years old) were that districts have expanded the evaluation and planning process for students, with a broader base of evaluation information taken into account, and that aspects of the least restrictive environment remain problematic. (CL)

A followup study of 47 young adults who had been labeled LD (learning disabled) and 59 non-LD subjects revealed similar employment status, although LD subjects had a significantly lower mean job status; were less active in social affairs; and reported less satisfaction with their secondary school education. (CL)

The need for reliable, valid, and economical preschool screening measures to identify psychoeducational problems as mandated by P.L. 94-142 (the Education for All Handicapped Child Act) led to the development of the Minneapolis Preschool Screening Instrument (MPSI). (SW)