This article provides an overview of the family information gathering process in early intervention and the effect of cultural and linguistic diversity on family information gathering. Practical strategies that early intervention providers can use in interviews, surveys, and observations are discussed, as well as implications for personnel…

This article describes PIIE (identify Preference, choose Intervention, Implement, and Evaluate), a new approach designed to promote the communicative behaviors of young children with autism and pervasive developmental disorder. Two case examples are included to illustrate the process and its utility with toddlers and preschool age children.…

This article reviews early intervention resources for supporting infants and toddlers in intensive care units (ICUs) and their families. The resources cost $50 or less and include a video, three books, two Web sites, and a publication listing assessment tools, guidelines for family-centered practice, participatory exercises, and a bibliography.…

This article discusses the Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD) approach to teach writing skills to students with learning disabilities. It examines how SRSD is implemented in the classroom, how teachers can plan for and evaluate SRSD, the research evidence supporting SRSD, and the method's six stages. An example in a second grade classroom…

This article describes online instruction in the context of online technologies, instructional environment, and home environment of students with disabilities. Topics covered include advantages, cost effectiveness, Web accessibility, universal design for learning, tools for accessing and organizing resources, tools for communication, learning…

This article identifies questions and strategies to help teachers become more self-aware regarding their interactions with students with behavioral and emotional disorders. Strategies address: (1) identifying and defusing emotional triggers; (2) shifting focus; (3) reducing burnout and nurturing teacher mental health; (4) assessing ability to use…

This article describes use of "comic strip conversations," a type of social story adapted for younger students or those with limited verbal communication skills. It utilizes simple symbols, stick figures, and color to identify key elements of a social interaction. Three steps to implementing the technique are explained and illustrated with…

This article evaluates the use of "reverse-role tutoring" in a project in which students with emotional and behavioral disorders became tutors for students without disabilities but who were performing below grade level. Results indicated tutors improved five target behaviors and tutees improved their writing skills. Insets summarize the literature…

This article on using mnemonics with students having learning and behavior problems first offers a case study of a 7th grade student and then describes the letter strategy, the keyword mnemonic method, and the pegword method. Seven steps for implementing mnemonic strategies are offered. An inset reviews the research literature on using mnemonic…

A special education teacher describes how she used dialogue journals both to communicate with her emotionally disturbed students and improve the students' writing skills. An inset summarizes the research on dialogue journals. An analysis of topics written about by students including requests, feelings, hopes, family, school, peers, and wishes is…

This article for teachers provides basic information on psychiatric disorders and treatments. It covers oppositional defiant and conduct disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, depression or other mood disorders, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders, and autistic spectrum disorders. Insets provide additional…

This article describes the Life Skills program used to improve the social skills of 12 students with learning disabilities in an Israeli middle school. Each of two groups (girls or boys) met weekly for 5 months to address social skills topics. The article notes gender differences in reactions and participation, and outcomes in such areas as…

This article suggests ways to use tactile teaching strategies with students who have severe and multiple disabilities including blindness. Guidelines address tactile modeling, tactile mutual attention, presenting tactile information, providing effective tactile representation, hypersensitivity to touch, and a team approach. (Contains references.)…

Discussion of college foreign language requirements for students with learning disabilities considers how foreign language courses affect college admission, foreign language as a college graduation requirement, variations in how colleges determine course substitutions, and useful documentation for the substitution process. Insets list suggested…

This article explores use of a "home-to-school communication journal" to provide effective home-school communication and collaboration for students with severe disabilities. It considers barriers related to communication notebooks, recommended functions of the home-to-school notebook, contents, teacher and parent notebook implementation,…