This article addresses curriculum development for students with severe, profound, and multiple learning difficulties in the context of British National Curriculum requirements. It suggests that practitioners have recognized the dangers of "complementary curricula" but are using the concept of "subjects as contexts of experience" to address…

This article examines gender issues in resource allocation for special needs students in mainstream schools in the United Kingdom. It reports on a survey of the allocation of special provision resources in 35 schools within one local education authority. Data are reported which show significant problems for management of special needs services in…

This review of recent British legislation and government plans for providing speech and language therapy (SLT) for children with special educational needs focuses on such issues as collaboration among services using a systems framework, functional issues in coordinating health and educational services, especially SLT, and structural issues such as…

This questionnaire study examined the coordination of speech/language therapists (N=47) with teachers (N=62) in 54 special schools for children with physical disabilities in England. Respondents were positive about the value of collaboration, although many reported problems of limited time available for joint planning and development of…

This paper describes a one-year small-scale action-research project to identify the skills required by pupils (and teachers) to participate in individual program planning in a school for children with severe learning difficulties. A procedure was developed for the assessment of pupil readiness for full involvement in the target- setting process.…

Discussion of effects of "institutionalized racism" on the education of black and minority children with special educational needs in the United Kingdom focuses on a Scottish study which raised issues concerning: racism in special education research; over and under representation in special education; equitable assessment, curriculum and access to…

This interview study examined attitudes of seven Bangladeshi parents of preschool aged children with severe learning difficulties concerning disability and the special school in London (England) their children attended. Findings addressed cultural influences on parental attitudes toward disability, satisfaction with the school, and views of…

Summarizes litigation concerning requirements that schools provide students with disabilities services in the least restrictive environment (LRE). It identifies and delineates the LRE standards established within federal circuit courts and suggests an alternative, more comprehensive, standard that reflects the explicit mandates of the Individuals…

A synthesis of eight studies, involving 442 students, that examined the perceptions of students with learning disabilities concerning their educational settings resulted in five overall findings, including (1) most students preferred to receive specialized instruction outside of the general education classroom for part of the school day and (2)…

A survey of 172 teachers of students with emotional/behavioral disorders found that 71% reported they currently use level systems for behavioral management. Analysis notes similarities and differences between level system users and nonusers, characteristics common to level systems, and inconsistencies in perceptions of effectiveness and…

This study examined provisions for special education services in state charter school legislation through document reviews, a survey of charter schools, interviews, and site visits to four Colorado charter schools. It found significant variability across states and among the Colorado charter schools in how students with disabilities access the…

Telephone interviews with 141 randomly selected special education coordinators, principals, and special and general education teachers examined issues related to special education, including a free and appropriate public education (FAPE), Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and school discipline procedures. Respondents found IEPs too…

This study examined effects of text listening strategy instruction on listening and reading comprehension skills of 95 9- to 11-year-old poor readers of whom half were also poor listeners. Results indicated significant program effects on strategic listening and strategic reading posttests. Although improvements were maintained, transfer to more…

A review of 48 studies on the use of sight-word methodology to teach functional reading to individuals with moderate and severe disabilities found that sight-word instruction has been highly effective with this population. New strategies have included feedback procedures and applying constant time delay. A persistent limitation of the research is…

This study assessed 575 students with mild mental retardation in three educational settings. Their loneliness, depression, and social skills were assessed through student self-reports and peer perception of social status. Among findings were that preadolescent students in self-contained classes in regular schools exhibited more loneliness and…