A five-year longitudinal study of 531 incarcerated youth, more than half of whom had a disability, showed that those who were working or in school 6 months after release tended to stay involved in positive activities and had not returned to the juvenile facility 12 months after release. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Interviews with 36 high school and college students with hearing impairments and 36 teachers indicated variable use of study strategies with notes among students and a lack of knowledge among teachers about the use of notes for studying. Results suggest the need for instruction on note usage and study skills. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Demographic and perception data were collected from 63 teachers (grades 1-5) to determine the effect of sociocultural variables on teachers' perceptions of classroom behavior, management, and referral tendencies. Teachers' perceptions of a learning disability, educational level, grade level, instructional practices, and prereferral intervention…

Analysis of data for the NICHD Study of Early Child Care revealed different prediction models for children (n=5,416). Early home environment, later behavior problems, and children's health problems contributed to identification by medical professionals, while early home environment and socioeconomic status contributed to identification based on…

Case studies of six young women with learning disabilities revealed three career development phases: unsettled, exploratory, and focused. Phases varied along two dimensions stability of employment and clarity of career goals. Key elements influencing career development included motivation and determination, family support, career exploration…

A study examined juvenile delinquency outcomes for 171 children with disabilities participating in two different preschool models, one using direct instruction, the other using a cognitively oriented, child-directed model. At age 15, the groups did not differ significantly in their level of reported delinquency. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Based on a series of focus group meetings, 15 students with mobility limitations (ages 9-15) and 12 parents identified four categories of barriers at their schools: the physical environment, intentional attitudinal barriers, unintentional attitudinal barriers, and physical limitations. Recommendations for promoting accessibility and full…

Head Start, special education, and general preschool teachers (n=586) completed a survey designed to examine their use of assessments and curricula. They provided a range of responses, including reported use of 21 commercial assessments and self-developed and program-developed checklists. A majority listed curriculum-based measures acceptable in…

This article examines the impact of poverty on the quality of life in families of children with disabilities. A literature review found a variety of effects of poverty on the five dimensions of family, including health (e.g., hunger, limited health care access), productivity, physical environment, emotional well-being, and family interaction.…

Two studies investigated the role of peer training embedded within interventions to maximize participation for students with autism and the social benefits for all participants. Videotape probes of 34 students indicated greater generalization of skills from groups with trained peers and less from groups with untrained and stranger peers. (Contains…

A study compared the effects of different methods of analyzing trends to illustrate how failure to account for change in classification will lead to misinterpretation of data on the performance of students with disabilities. Data from five years of assessment in Texas is used to illustrate effects of classification changes. (Contains references.)…

A study investigated the relationship between placement in inclusive (n=36) and pullout (n=22) special education programs and academic and behavior outcomes for students with disabilities. Eighth-graders in inclusive classrooms earned higher grades, achieved higher or comparable standardized test scores, committed no more behavioral infractions,…

A study explored differences in the special education programming of 115 African-American and 115 Caucasian students (grades 3-5). Although a clear pattern was found in variables related to placement restrictiveness, the pattern was similar for African-American and Caucasian students. Variables include problem severity, presence of behavioral…

Young adults (N=277) with and without learning disabilities or emotional or behavioral disorders were interviewed regarding their school and post-drop out experiences. Findings indicate that factors such as disability status, when individuals drop out, and self-perspectives influence education participation. Strategies for helping students who…

Five elementary schools actively engaged in inclusive approaches were studied using survey, observation, and interview methods. Findings revealed commonalties in leadership practices and core principles across this diverse sample of schools, consistent patterns in measured climate indices, and a range of administrative strategies used by…