Suggests that there are far more identified children with autistic spectrum disorders in mainstream secondary schools and colleges than there were a decade ago. Offers research-based educational strategies for developing language and communication skills, social and affective information processing, social communication skills, and motivation for…

Considers the implications of Section 550A of the 1996 Education Act in the United Kingdom concerning the use of physical restraint and reasonable force in schools. Addresses confusion over permissible forms of control and the need for staff training for effective implementation. (DB)

The first of two studies examined the family literacy experiences of 10 young children in Britain. The second study traced the literacy progress of 66 first-year students, together with teachers' predictions and subsequent interventions. Findings indicated teachers' informal judgements did identify students with later problems but there was wide…

This study compared instructional delivery of an undergraduate special-education course via a traditional classroom, interactive television (ITV), or videotaped lectures. Students in all groups achieved equally well, and attended class regularly, but students receiving videotaped instruction were not satisfied, and students in the ITV or videotape…

Describes and evaluates the "TopClass" educational-server software system for the delivery of university-based special-education coursework via the World Wide Web. A pilot study of the development and delivery of instructional content via TopClass found positive student reactions and indicators of student learning. Issues related to Web-based…

Effects of a traditional instructional format and technology-enhanced anchored instruction on the immediate and long-term acquisition of knowledge was evaluated with 100 university students in a special-education course. The CD-ROM-based anchored-instruction group outperformed the traditional instruction group on the multiple-choice follow-up test…

Describes a multi-university model for delivering a distance-learning special-education course by compressed video to eight undergraduate and graduate student sites in rural Kentucky. Evaluation indicated the model's effectiveness. Advantages and challenges of the approach are identified. (DB)

This paper argues that the handicapping effects of blindness on children are specific to certain educational and social contexts, with the most substantive difficulties resulting from lack of convergent and complementary information through various sensory channels and the depressed speed of information processing. (Author/DB)

Discusses the potential uses of literature with people with severe and profound learning disabilities and describes a series of multisensory interactive drama games re-telling the story of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. (Author/DB)

Examines principles, procedures, and research of the British Special Education Needs (SEN) "Code of Practice" in the context of requirements for implementation of a revised code by 2002. Considers code administration, paperwork, Individualized Education Program requirements, assessment criteria, transition planning, parent role, and local…

Reports on a study in four Scottish schools (with differing socio-economic and school-effectiveness ratings) of how lower achieving students experience schooling. Emphasis is on the available pupil-support systems: learning support, behavioral support, and guidance services. (DB)

Discusses effects of feedback to pupils with behavior problems and reviews the literature on effective intervention strategies such as ignoring petty annoyances, clearly defining classroom rules established with pupil input, and providing feedback and praise to change behaviors and develop self-esteem. (DB)

Argues that assumptions of the empirical-analytic paradigm that social-science research is objective may be flawed, and researchers need to be aware of the political and ideological influences in research on special-needs education. An alternative model is offered which challenges the "normalization" approach to teaching students with special…

A study explored six Canadian regular class elementary teachers' attitudes toward inclusion of students with disabilities into their classrooms. Participants experienced difficulty in articulating their roles in integration and viewed resource teachers as being responsible for included students. Segregated placement was seen as superior to…

Focuses on the rationale for collaborative teacher training and the following themes found in the literature on collaborative personnel preparation: (1) training and extensive practice in collaborative skills; (2) provision of models of the collaborative process; (3) university/local school partnerships; and (4) information-sharing of areas of…