A case study of a Greek child (age 5) with visual impairment and echolalia is presented to illustrate the symptoms of echolalia in inclusive settings, the forms that echolalia can take, and how echolalia is differentiated from the kinds of speech repetitions observed in conditions of normal language acquisition. (Contains references.) (CR)

A study of an innovative home-school preventative project in Britain designed to work with families with children seen to be at risk of developing long-term behavior problems concluded that the project has potential for wider development, although short-term funding and inappropriate referrals inhibit its capacity to produce sustainable outcomes.…

A study involving 10 British teachers and 6 primary students with disabilities found the teachers saw the provision of learning support assistants as a critical factor in enabling students to be included in classroom activities. The importance of teamwork and effective communication was seen as essential. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

A survey of speech and hearing difficulties exhibited by children in 73 government primary schools in Barbados was conducted. Approximately 5 percent of the children were found to have hearing difficulties and 24 percent to have speech difficulties, higher than that of some other countries. Recommendations are discussed. (Contains references.) (CR)

A study investigated the effects of a software-based early reading program on the early reading ability of 55 first-graders with disabilities or who had potential for reading failure. Results showed students showed dramatic improvements following the 16-week program, including the skills of phonemic awareness, spelling, and word identification.…

This article provides an overview of several funding sources for assistive technology devices, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Medicaid, the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act Amendments of 1987, vocational rehabilitation services, and private insurance. Suggestions for making successful claims…

This article describes the activities of a national group of assistive technology professionals known as the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology Services (QIAT) Consortium. The work of the Consortium is discussed and the current set of indicators is included. Processes used in the development of the indicators are described. (Contains…

This article describes how students with disabilities can utilize a combination of customized home pages and assistive technology tools to access the World Wide Web. Tips for designing Web pages with specific modifications for students with different disabilities are provided, along with general design guidelines. (Contains seven references.) (CR)

This article describes the development of a distance learning delivery course at the University of Kentucky that focuses on instructional technology, instructional design, and telecommunications. The components of the course and the availability of the course over the Internet is discussed, along with guidelines for training programs. (Contains…

This article discusses some of the limitations of current educational assessment and how application of universal design for learning (UDL) concepts can improve assessment accuracy and its applicability to instruction. Benefits of UDL are described and include allowing for multiple means of representation and expression, and multiple means of…

This article describes nine tactics for utilizing technology to manage increasing amounts of information while attempting to discern what information is most pertinent. Specific products are highlighted to provide a glimpse of the potential power and value of these tools for enabling educators to stay apprised of new developments. (Contains one…

This article reviews recent advances in the "new genetics" and shows how such advances affect special education. Focusing on Williams, Fragile X, Prader-Willi, and Down syndromes, it notes how etiology-related cognitive-linguistic profiles and propensities to distinct personalities and behavior problems point the way to specific, targeted…

A study of 112 preschoolers with and without disabilities in 16 community-based, inclusive preschool programs, found both groups of children exhibited similar child behaviors and were meaningfully engaged in a variety of adult- and child-initiated activities within similar activity contexts; however, children with disabilities received more adult…

A study involving two kindergarten teachers found that reciprocal peer coaching produced an increase in use of suggestions, prompts, questions, and related talk to facilitate students' social interaction with classmates and fostered the use of spontaneous adaptations in the academic materials, skills, or social interaction of student pairs.…

A survey of 639 general education teachers resulted in the following recommendations for improving home-school communication about homework for students with disabilities: release and mutual planning time, assignment books, parent attendance at meetings and daily monitoring of homework, and use of telephone networks to promote remote access to…